Jonathan Toews Receives Emotional Welcome As Jets Face Blackhawks In Chicago

The United Center was electric on Monday night as Chicago welcomed back one of its most beloved sports icons, Jonathan Toews, for the first time in a visiting jersey. The Winnipeg Jets’ veteran center, who spent 15 storied seasons with the Blackhawks and hoisted the Stanley Cup three times, returned to the city where he became a legend. And what a homecoming it was—complete with a four-minute standing ovation, a heartfelt video tribute, and a game that saw the Blackhawks snap their losing skid in front of nearly 20,000 fans.

Toews, now 37, missed out on the Blackhawks’ “The Banner Years” celebration just two days prior, when the franchise honored their 2010, 2013, and 2015 championship teams. While Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Marian Hossa, and a parade of other franchise greats took a bow, Toews was north of the border, fighting for the Jets in a tough 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. But, as fate would have it, he got his own night of recognition on Monday—a night that will be remembered for years to come.

From the moment Toews and the Jets hit the ice for warmups, the buzz in the building was palpable. Fans dotted the stands in No. 19 jerseys and held up signs reading "WELCOME BACK 19." When Toews was introduced with the Winnipeg starting lineup, the crowd erupted. The love only grew when, with 12:23 left in the first period, the Blackhawks played a highlight reel of Toews’ greatest moments. The crowd of 19,894 rose, roaring in appreciation as Toews took a lap around the ice, patting his heart and waving to the fans who had supported him for more than a decade.

“I tried to do my best to take it all in and really savor it. To really appreciate the love from the fans,” Toews said after the game, according to the Associated Press. "Obviously, I spent some special years here in Chicago and that’s what made playing for the Blackhawks so great. Winning championships and all of that stuff aside, just playing for a sports team in this city and calling this home for as long as I did was just incredible. I can’t thank them enough. It will always be home and has a special place in my heart."

It was a scene reminiscent of Patrick Kane’s emotional return to the United Center in February 2024, when he scored an overtime winner for the Detroit Red Wings. Toews, ever the competitor, laughed before the game about the high bar set by his longtime teammate. "I thought about it, and then I was like, ‘What am I calling him for advice for?' I’m kidding. Like I said, I’ll just go out there and enjoy it tonight."

But on this night, the script was different. The Blackhawks, desperate to halt a three-game slide, found their groove behind the stellar play of goaltender Spencer Knight. Knight turned aside all 32 shots he faced, recording his third shutout of the season and the eighth of his career. He was rock-solid, denying the Jets at every turn and giving the Blackhawks the confidence they needed to play their game.

Chicago’s offense broke through in the second period, when Jason Dickinson settled a lofted pass from Ryan Donato and beat Connor Hellebuyck for his sixth goal of the year. The United Center erupted again, sensing that this was going to be a special night for more than just sentimental reasons. Later, with Winnipeg pressing for an equalizer, rookie phenom Connor Bedard—just back from a right shoulder injury—iced the game with an empty-netter, his first goal since returning from the sidelines.

Bedard’s tally put the exclamation point on a gritty, determined effort by the Blackhawks, who played without key forwards Teuvo Teravainen (out with an upper-body injury for a third straight game) and Andre Burakovsky (scratched due to illness). Despite these absences, Chicago’s depth and resolve shone through, and the fans responded with thunderous approval.

For Winnipeg, the loss was another tough pill to swallow in a season that’s seen its share of struggles. The Jets dropped to 5-11-5 in their last 21 games, and their power play sputtered, going 0-for-2 on the night. Hellebuyck did his part with 22 saves, but the offense couldn’t solve Knight. The Jets now look to regroup as they return home for a three-game homestand, starting Tuesday night against the St. Louis Blues.

For Toews, who signed with Winnipeg on July 1, 2025, the night was about more than the final score. It was a chance to reflect on the journey that began when he was drafted No. 3 overall by the Blackhawks in 2006. At just 20 years old, he was named the 34th captain in franchise history, and he quickly became the heart and soul of a team that would transform from handing out tickets on the street to selling out the United Center every night.

Toews was part of a core that brought Chicago its first Stanley Cup in 49 years in 2010, then added two more championships in 2013 and 2015. The Blackhawks also reached the Western Conference finals in 2014, falling just short in an epic seven-game series against the Los Angeles Kings. Along the way, Toews built lifelong friendships with teammates like Andrew Shaw, Kris Versteeg, and Troy Brouwer—friends he reunited with for dinner on Sunday before his big return. “I’m just super thankful. Really, really grateful,” Toews said. "I think the beauty of our game is it’s so team-oriented, and I think I’m always trying to be cognizant of the fact that I was thrown into a really incredible opportunity. We had so many great players that were finding themselves, finding their careers, finding their games at the same time, and just even the trajectory of where the organization was at the time.”

His journey hasn’t been without challenges. Toews missed the entire 2020-21 season and part of 2022-23 due to long COVID-19 and chronic immune response syndrome. The Blackhawks announced before their 2023 season finale that it would be his last game with the team, and the city sent him off with another emotional ovation. Yet, after some time away, he’s found new life with Winnipeg, scoring in four consecutive games earlier in the year before being held off the scoresheet in Saturday’s overtime loss to Toronto.

As the final horn sounded on Monday, the Blackhawks celebrated a hard-earned 2-0 win, but the night belonged to Toews. His influence on the city, the franchise, and the game of hockey was felt in every cheer, every sign, and every handshake with former teammates. Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy summed it up best: "He’s the one teammate I’ve ever had where you go out with him in public and people won’t just say they’re a ‘big fan.’ They’ll almost give an emotional thank you to him. They’ll literally say, ‘Thank you for making my life better.’ That’s what people will say to him.”

With the Blackhawks set to visit Carolina later in the week and the Jets heading home to face St. Louis, both teams move forward. But for Chicago, Monday night was a celebration of legacy, loyalty, and the enduring bond between a city and its captain. No matter what jersey he wears, Jonathan Toews will always be a Blackhawk in the hearts of Chicago fans.