PUBLICATION
Sam Walker
January 19, 2026Â Â (3:42 PM)
Photo credit: Screenshot
Jonathan Toews returns to Chicago; Blackhawks memories collide with Winnipeg Jets tonight.
He spent Saturday night in the city for the Banner Years centennial, then caught up with teammates still in town. Troy Brouwer, Andrew Shaw, Marian Hossa, Johnny Oduya, and Kris Versteeg were there.
Toews said he met up with plenty of familiar faces Sunday night and loved feeling Chicago’s energy again.
“At the end of the day, you want to go out there and play well and you want to win the game so you’ve got to keep some level of focus and not get too distracted of all the things going on around you. But tonight, I’ll definitely be excited, a lot of energy to play the game and just try and go out there and play my best.”
– Jonathan Toews
Jonathan Toews, Winnipeg Jets, back in Chicago
If you were there for 2010, 2013, or 2015, this feels like flipping on a highlight tape. Fans will cheer, but they also want the Blackhawks to look like they belong.
The 37-year-old has seven goals and 11 assists in 47 games for Winnipeg, a stat line that matches on NHL.com and ESPN. He has also looked steady on draws and the second power-play unit lately.
He joked his parents might be enjoying it even more, reconnecting with people around the United Center, soaking the applause, and calling everyone they know.
«It’s special. They might be enjoying it more than I am, being back here and reconnecting with people around the United Center.»
Winnipeg is using him lower in the lineup, but the reads look familiar: support low, bump to the point, then slide into the slot. That can stress Chicago’s penalty kill fast.
Chicago drafted him third overall in 2006, and he has 379 goals, 522 assists, and 901 points in 1,114 games, per ESPN and StatMuse. Three cups later, his standard hangs over this rebuild.
Toews wants to keep it simple, get pucks deep, win draws, and let Winnipeg’s forecheck grind.
“You don’t get games like this all the time. You want to go out there and play well and want to win the game, so you keep some level of focus and not get too distracted with all the things going on around you.”
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider