Jonathan Toews Jets Nation year in review

Welcome back to the second edition of the “Jets Nation year in review” series to wrap up the Winnipeg Jets 2025-26 season. This series takes a look at the individual performances from Jets players throughout the season, recapping their year and previewing what they might be doing in the 2026-27 season. Several depth players and prospects may be “grouped together” in an article later in the series. Today’s player in the spotlight is the hometown future hall of famer Jonathan Toews, who made an inspiring comeback to the NHL after two seasons away from hockey.

After playing 53 games in the 2022-23 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Toews stepped away from the NHL to focus and manage his health. Toews was diagnosed with Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS) as well as effects and symptoms connected to Long COVID. After a lengthy time of recovering, where Toews was transparent about what he was dealing with, Toews agreed to sign a one year deal with the Jets on June 20th, 2025. The deal was formally made officially on “free agency day”, July 1st, 2025, and Toews was officially a member of the team where he was born on a 1 year, $2 million deal with other performance related bonuses.

The expectations for Toews were uncertain entering the season, and it was difficult for fans to know what kind of player he would be after his lengthy absence from the league. My personal prediction for Toews before the season started was a 36 point year with roughly 70 games played. Fast forward to opening night, where Toews would be the Jets 2nd line centre due to an injury to Adam Lowry. Toews spent time on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th line this season, so he had a handful of different linemates throughout the season. By the end of the season, Toews went into the off-season with an overall successful return to the NHL given his lengthy absence and the health issues he had to overcome to get to what he was able to do with the Jets.

Toews appeared in all 82 regular season games for just the third time in his lengthy NHL career. At the end of the season, Toews had 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points. Toews had 38 penalty minutes, which is around the total he’s averaged throughout his career, and he had a +/- rating of -20, the second lowest of his career. When you compare these totals to the rest of Toews’ career the numbers of course seem a little low, but considering the circumstances it was still a productive year for Toews. The Jets lacked depth scoring throughout their roster, but Toews did his fair share when needed, finishing tied for 6th on the team in points.

One very impressive stat from Toews was his 62.1% faceoff win percentage. Toews was always the go to faceoff taker when a win on the draw was needed, and he took a total of 1026 faceoffs on the season. Only Claude Giroux from the Ottawa Senators had a higher faceoff win percentage in the league at 63.1%, and Giroux took a total of 799 faceoffs this season. Toews had 637 faceoff wins this season, which is a fantastic underrated stat which centres don’t get enough appreciation for enough.

Everything considered, Toews’ return to the NHL in the 2025-26 season should be seen as an all-around positive story in the hockey world. If Toews decides to officially call it quits this off-season, he’ll end his historic career on a positive note with the Winnipeg Jets. Looking back at his entire career, Toews appears to almost be a lock to be a future hall of famer once he becomes eligible.

Up Next

The 2026 NHL Draft will take place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York on June 26th and June 27th. The Winnipeg Jets will be selecting 8th overall in the first round. Stay tuned for the next edition of the Jets Nation “year in review” series article coming in a few days!

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