After sitting out the previous two seasons and looking like his NHL career was over, three-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Toews made his return to the NHL on Thursday night as a member of his hometown Winnipeg Jets. Toews, who is from Manitoba, had spent the first 15 years of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks where he was the centerpiece of their mini-dynasty in the early 2010s. 

The Jets are hoping he can recapture some of that magic and bring much-needed championship experience to their roster. 

He was held off the scoresheet in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Dallas Stars, logging 18:19 minutes of ice-time and recording one shot on goal.

Jonathan Toews gets huge welcome in Winnipeg debut

Even though Toews is new to the Jets’ roster, he is still a huge star in Winnipeg. Not only for the fact that he is from there, but also because he has represented Team Canada on an international level and been a hockey superstar across the country.

When he was introduced as part of the team’s home-opener on Thursday, he got one of the loudest and biggest ovations of the pregame ceremony.