Jonathan Toews held a press conference on July 4, 2025, to mark his return to the NHL as a member of the Winnipeg Jets, his hometown team. Toews described the experience as surreal and compared it to being drafted again, expressing that playing in front of friends and family was a dream come true. He shared insights into his healing process, noting that over the past year, his condition has steadily improved, allowing him to regain confidence in his abilities. Toews emphasized the intuitive nature of his decision to join the Jets, stating it felt right despite not being a purely rational choice. The event was celebratory, with Jets staff, fans, and media present to welcome him. His return carries some uncertainty due to his comeback but is considered meaningful for all parties involved. In the projected opening night lineup for Winnipeg, Toews is positioned at center alongside Gustav Nyquist on the wing, with no inclusion of former Jet Nikolaj Ehlers, who recently signed with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Jonathan Toews: "It really got to a point where I couldn't see myself wearing any other jersey ... It wasn't something where you write down the pros and cons on a piece of paper. To me it wasn't rational at all. It was more of an intuitive thing where it just felt right." https://t.co/vQlWLjGoFx
A big comeback inherently carries some uncertainty with it. That said, it’s blatantly apparent Jonathan Toews’ return to the NHL is made more meaningful for all parties involved by the fact it’s happening in Manitoba. (@Dixononsports) https://t.co/ORzMFNS344
The tone of the Jonathan Toews press conference was celebratory. There were Jets staff, fans who won a contest, and even some members of the gathered media who applauded when he was announced. Toews expressed gratitude. Said it feels almost like being drafted for the first time.