Patrick Kane claims to know where Jonathan Toews needs to sign when he returns to the NHL

For the past months now, Jonathan Toews has shared updates on his recovery via his Instagram account, posting pictures of his trip to India where he underwent “an Ayurvedic detox called a Panchakarma” and hinting at a return to the NHL. As he keeps recovering, Toews remained a free agent and could eventually make a return to the NHL, with many teams around the league interested in signing the veteran forward.

However, when Mark Lazerus of the Athletic asked his former teammate Patrick Kane on Toews’ potential return to action and where he should sign, number 88 had only one answer in mind. He told the insider ahead of the matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings later tonight:

“I think that would be amazing. You don’t want to see him wear another jersey. You’d rather see him finish his career as a Blackhawk. But I don’t know if that’s in the cards. It would be a great story and good for the franchise.”

In past weeks, Toews has been linked to different clubs, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers, though no one has yet to link him back to Chicago.

If Toews is seeking a return this season, he will need to be signed to an NHL contract before the trade deadline on March 7.
In 2022-23, Toews played out the last of an eight-year, $84 million contract he signed with the Blackhawks in 2014 that carried an AAV of $10.5 million, after missing the 2020-21 bubble season while recovering from COVID-19 and chronic immune response syndrome. He was then informed by general manager Kyle Davidson prior to the team’s final game of the season that he would not be re-signed. In August of 2023, Toews announced that he was stepping away from hockey “to give myself the time and space to fully heal and enjoy life to the fullest once again.”

While I get why Kane would find it hard to see Toews in any other uniform than the Hawks, you can imagine how the former captain would prefer to sign with a contender with a chance to win another championship before he finally, truly, hangs up the skates. Kane knows it's probably not in the cards, but that's just something he would love to see: 

“I’d love to see him come back and play for the Blackhawks. That would be amazing. When you look at his career and how storied it is and how much success he had as a Blackhawk, you don’t want to see him wear another jersey… I don’t know know if that’s really in the cards. That’s just my thinking.”

Toews has not only resume skating and that he is back down to his playing weight. It is more than likely that Toews will use again his former agent Pat Brisson, who is expected to find the best deal and destination for his client.

Toews would be a tremendous addition to any NHL roster with his Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015) he won with the Blackhawks. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009-10 and the Frank Selke Trophy in 2013. He has played his entire career with the Blackhawks after he was selected third overall by the club in the 2006 NHL Draft. He recorded a total of 372 goals and 511 assists over 1,067 games.

Where would you want him to sign upon his return?