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After 16 seasons in the NHL, three Stanley Cups and a few Olympic gold medals, Jonathan Toews announced that he was ending his career.
Toews spent last season with the Winnipeg Jets – his hometown team – after sitting out two full seasons.
At a press conference on Friday, the future Hall of Famer officially hung up his skates.
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“I’m a lot more nervous than I thought I would be,” Toews said after taking the podium. “I just want to acknowledge, first of all, that it’s a privilege to be here to say goodbye to hockey and the NHL. I think there are a lot of great players who don’t get that opportunity.
“SO, [I] I just want to be aware of it. Thank you everyone for coming today.”
Jonathan Toews spent his final NHL season playing for his hometown Winnipeg Jets. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
Well, Toews hangs them the way he played: with class.
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And what a career it was. I mean, the hardware – which also includes a Conn Smythe, a Selke and a Mark Messier Leadership Award – speaks for itself, but look at those numbers.
Of course, Toews is best remembered for his 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. They drafted him in 2006, and he led them to three Stanley Cups in 2010 (when they ripped out this Flyers fan’s heart), 2013 and 2015.
But one of the most admirable things about Toews’ career is how he fought back after two years out of the league due to inflammatory and immune system issues that also affected his final two years with the Blackhawks.
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Jonathan Toews spent 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and led them to three Stanley Cups. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
What a career. Those Blackhawks teams of the early 2010s were nasty and they were all led by Toews.
There’s no doubt he’ll get a call from the Hockey Hall of Fame in a few years.
