The focus was on Jonathan Toews as he took the ice for the Winnipeg Jets’ season opener against Dallas on Thursday night. The Winnipeg-native received a warm welcome from the packed arena during player introductions. Toews expressed excitement and energy about the crowd’s reception, stating he was trying to contain his emotions.
At 37 years old, Toews, playing his first NHL game since April 13, 2023, with the Chicago Blackhawks, played for 18:19 minutes in his 1,068th career regular-season game. He managed one shot on goal in the Jets’ 5-4 defeat. The veteran center, a three-time Stanley Cup winner and former Blackhawks captain, had been absent for the past two seasons due to health issues related to chronic inflammatory response syndrome and long-term effects of COVID-19.
Toews mentioned feeling near game shape and played alongside Gustav Nyquist and Nikita Chibrikov on the second line. He recognized areas for improvement, particularly in faceoff plays, but highlighted positive moments and opportunities created during the game, aiming to build on them.
Jets coach Scott Arniel noted the gradual progress of Toews and the team during the match, especially in the second period when Toews began to assert himself more on the ice. Despite a tough loss, Arniel acknowledged the challenges faced by the entire team, including Toews in his return.
The Dallas Stars commended Toews for his efforts to resume NHL competition, with players like Mikko Rantanen expressing happiness at seeing a player of Toews’s caliber back in action. Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan also praised Toews for his performance, highlighting his physical presence and skill despite his time away from the game.
