Yep, still weird.
He’s back, but in blue this time.
The United Center will be flooded with memories of the good ol’ days when Johnathan Toews comes to town Monday with the Winnipeg Jets. Several Chicago Blackhawks alumni from the 2010, 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup championship teams appeared Saturday for a “Banner Years” celebration before the game against the Boston Bruins, so what better way to end a special holiday weekend than with the former Hawks star on the ice?
Toews — the captain of those title teams — is returning to Chicago for the first time in nearly three years. Just like Detroit Red Wings right winger Patrick Kane was, Toews will be in a different sweater.
“I never got to play with him, but things you hear (are) all positive from people around the room or people that have played with (Toews),” center Connor Bedard said. “A legend in this organization and in the NHL, so should be a fun night to celebrate.”
All the stories about Toews during time with the Hawks have been told 10 times over, but that won’t stop fans from wearing their No. 19 jerseys. Toews already faced the Hawks this season in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but his former team on Monday will look equally different from Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Corey Crawford.
Only seven of the 2025-26 Hawks — Alex Vlasic, Teuvo Teräväinen, Connor Murphy, Arvid Söderblom, Sam Lafferty, Jason Dickinson and Wyatt Kaiser — have been listed on a roster with Toews. Still, his legacy remains.
Murphy joined the Hawks via trade from the Arizona Coyotes in 2017 and spent six seasons with Toews. The defenseman credited his then-captain for helping him ease into being a Hawk.
“He is really personable as far as getting to know his teammates, and he wants to connect,” Murphy said. “Something as simple as you go to a team party with your wife or girlfriend, he’d connect with them, too, and make them feel welcome and want to get to know them and build friendships.
“He’s just a genuine person. When someone’s genuine and trying to build friendships and camaraderie, that makes it really easy to connect.”
As an alternate captain, Murphy has done his part in leading different eras of the Hawks. He uses the advice Toews gave to him to do just that.
“If I would try to emulate something, it would be to be yourself,” Murphy said. “He was big on making sure guys were comfortable and making sure guys didn’t try to sit in the shadows of other star players.
“I think people tried to follow and stay quiet around him, (Patrick Kane), Duncan Keith and (Seabrook, but he was big on making sure that guys were being true to themselves and comfortable to step up and take big roles.”
The Jets teammates may be noticing some Toews-specific habits he developed in his long career. Murphy took note of them during their time together.
“How he treats his body and how much he tries to perfect his craft really sticks out,” Murphy said. “He really is always trying to optimize his body, to fine tune the best he can, probably more than what I’ve seen anyone before.”
The Hawks drafted Toews with the No. 3 pick in 2006. He was given the captain’s patch on July 18, 2008, at age 20 becoming the youngest captain in franchise history. The rest is lifted up in the United Center rafters.
Toews totaled 883 points (372 goals, 551 assists) in 15 seasons with the Hawks. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010, racking up 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists) in the first of three Stanley Cup runs.
The second championship run saw Toews win the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward. His third Stanley Cup season he won the Mark Messier Leadership Award for his contributions to the community.
Toews also earned two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014. He’s a winner, and everyone around him wins too.
That success took a step back in the closing years of Toews’s Hawks chapter. The team made the playoffs just three times after the 2015 Stanley Cup (all first-round exits) and finished below .500 five times.
Center Jonathan Toews warms up for his final game as a Blackhawks player on April 13, 2023, at the United Center.
Toews missed the 2020-21 season because of what he said was chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS), and his game was clearly affected by the layoff upon his return. General manager Kyle Davidson announced on April 13, 2023, that the Hawks would not re-sign Toews, ending his Hawks career at 1,067 games.
Toews was forced into a two-year hiatus from hockey because of CIRS and long COVID. It was never a retirement, but it was a concern if the veteran would play hockey again.
Fellow 2006 first-round pick Nick Foligno was named the 35th Hawks captain in September 2024. Toews made sure to send his regards.
“He texted me saying congratulations, and I thought that was super classy of him,” Foligno said. “I’ve known Jon for a long time … so a ton of respect for him as a person and as a player.
“I think we have a mutual respect for both being guys that have been around a long time. It’s nice to have that relationship with him, so I try to do right by these guys in here (and) right in this organization.”
Toews signed a one-year contract with his hometown Jets on June 20, 2025, officially marking his return to the NHL. Of course, Foligno returned the favor.
“We talked a lot, actually, wishing him well and encouraging him, just like he did for me,” Foligno said. “Seeing him back, I just wanted him to know that we’re all pulling for him.
“It’s exciting to see a guy like him back in league. I think the league’s better with Jonathan Toews.”
Now, here we are, with Toews returning to the United Center for what is sure to be an emotional night.
“I know what he’s meant to this city and this organization, and that’ll never be replicated, but you try to do right by the organization and then by those guys that have come before you,” Foligno said. “He’s carried this team on his back for a long time (and) he’s been a pillar that this organization stands on.”