Star Hanges Up Skates

Spending sixteen years playing in the National Hockey League is quite a long time. And doing it at one of the highest levels in the sport says a lot. That's what Jonathan Toews did during his career. After a long and lengthy career, coming back after missing two years cause of illness, Toews is going out on his own terms. 

Toews was drafted 3rd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2006 (only Erik Johnson and Jordan Staal drafted ahead of him). Toews started in the big leagues with the Hawks in 2007 and played there until 2023. He then stepped away from the game for two years to deal with health issues. He finally came back for the 2025-26 season to go out on his own terms with his hometown team the Winnipeg Jets.  

Toews won three Cups with the Hawks, won the Conn Smyth Trophy in 2010, a Selke Trophy in 2013 a Mark Messier Leadership award in 2015m he played in six all star games. He played in 1,149 games, scoring 383 goals and 529 assists for 912 points. He played in 137 games, scoring 45 goals and 74 assists for 119 more points in the playoffs. HE's also got a few records to go along with all those point totals. He's the fastest to ever be appointed a team captain in just 64 career games. He holds Blackhawk records for most career OT goals with 16, most assists in a playoff year with 22, most points in a playoff year with 28 (both done in 2010) and most overtime goals in a season with 5.

While he may not have been the flashiest player on his team while in Chicago, that tittle went to Patrick Kane, he was probably the best all around player on those Hawks teams. That's why they were able to really build around him. He had a good head for the game, was a good skater and had great ability to move the puck to the right guys. Oh, and his shot was pretty good as well.

He did things quite well at both ends of the rink, as his point totals and the best defensive trophy win in 20134 suggests. To be able to take over as the leader of the Hawks at 20 years old and in just his second season in the league speaks volumes to how not only mature a player he was, but the type of leader he was as well. Toews was and is a great ambassador for the game and great example of how to go about playing the game of hockey the right way.

We know one thing for sure, his #19 will be hanging from the rafters of the United Center within the next few years. And its also a pretty fair shot that he might just see an enshrinement in Toronto too.