“I’ve been thinking about it, especially since Kaner (Patrick Kane) went back and scored the extra-time winner,” Toews said in an interview. “I’m looking forward to going back. It will be strange, happy and sad at the same time. Life goes on, of course, but I’m happy to be where I am now and definitely very grateful for the years I was able to spend there.”
Toews already reunited with former teammate Patrick Kane, now 37, on New Year’s Eve in Detroit, where Kane was part of the Red Wings organization for three seasons.
“The farewell to the fans (after the last game in Chicago) was completely unexpected on my part,” Toews said. “I’m so grateful to have played in a city like that with hockey fans like that, where we won championships. It exceeded so many expectations. No one really knew how crazy it would be.”
Toews was drafted third overall by the Blackhawks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and spent 15 seasons with the organization. During that time, he captured three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013, 2015), a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP (2010) and a Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward (2013).
“You talk to guys who don’t win playoffs their entire careers and then end up winning the Stanley Cup at the end of their careers,” Toews said. “Obviously there’s a serious contrast. I don’t want to say we didn’t appreciate it, but it all happened so quickly and we just made the best of it while we could.”
Known as “Captain Serious,” Toews was the captain of the Blackhawks from 2008 to 2023. He was named captain before the 2008–09 season, becoming the youngest captain in franchise history at just 20 years old.
He already faced Chicago on October 30 at the Canada Life Center, but his return to the United Center will hit very differently now that the entire arena is on its feet.
“I’ll be happy to get to play and relive some of that this week,” the Winnipeg product said. “At the end of the night, the old answer to the hockey interview is: we’re going there to get two points. We’re trending as a team right now, so it’ll be nice to win in that building.”
Through 1,114 career games, Toews has recorded 379 goals and 522 assists for 901 points, with 18 of those points (7G, 11A) coming so far this season with the Jets.
Toews, along with Kane, were the two players who really got me invested in hockey in 2015, when I first started following the NHL seriously. It happened to happen during Chicago’s dynasty period, which ended with another Stanley Cup that spring. I remember noticing Toews’ skill in the faceoff circle and his elite two-way play, which quickly made him one of my favorite players. Learning that my father was a Winnipeg product only strengthened that connection.
Toews’ return to Chicago on Monday night will be very special for me as well. Yes, I was a Hawks fan before I became Jets obsessed, but it all worked out in the end. The boy from Winnipeg is finally home and returns to the city where he built a dynasty and spent almost his entire career: the Windy City.
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