A former superstar is hoping to make a return to the NHL after a two-season absence from the league.
Jonathan Toews, the longtime captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, is reportedly targeting a comeback for the next NHL season, according to sources.
Toews, who is 37 years old, last competed during the 2022-23 season. In August 2023, he announced he was stepping away from hockey to focus on his health and well-being, stating his goal was `to give myself the time and space to fully heal and enjoy life to the fullest once again.`
The forward from Winnipeg also missed the entire 2020-21 season, which was impacted by the pandemic`s `bubble`, while recovering from effects of COVID-19 and chronic immune response syndrome.
Following his departure from the NHL, Toews remained out of the public eye until last November. He shared on Instagram that he had undergone an Ayurvedic Panchakarma detoxification process in India. He later discussed this experience in more detail in an interview, describing the various treatments involved, including intense massages, meditative yoga, and daily laxatives.
Now, he is reportedly aspiring to rejoin his distinguished career, which already includes winning three Stanley Cups and securing two Olympic gold medals.
Over his 15 NHL seasons and 1,067 regular-season games, all played with Chicago, Toews accumulated 372 goals and 511 assists. He earned the nickname `Captain Serious` for his reliable two-way play and crucial performances in important moments while playing centre.
In a December interview, Toews reflected on conversations with retired players, saying, “I’ve talked to a lot of the guys that are done, and a lot of them will say that desire to be on the ice competing and to be in the locker room with the guys never goes away. It’s just something that you have to accept when your time comes.”
“So there’s that,” he added, “but at the same time, I think there’s a big part of me that really wants to give it my all, to get back on the ice and see where it takes me.”
