Jonathan Toews talks potential return: 'Going to give it my best shot'
Jonathan Toews has been out of the game for more than a year, but he still isn't ready to close the book on his NHL career.
"I haven't spoken about this to a lot of people, but it's definitely still in there," Toews told GQ's Matthew Roberson. "I've talked to a lot of the guys that are done, and a lot of them will say that desire to be on the ice competing and to be in the locker room with the guys never goes away. It's just something that you have to accept when your time comes. So there's that, but at the same time, I think there's a big part of me that really wants to give it my all, to get back on the ice and see where it takes me.
"There's a part of me that really doesn't feel like my career is over yet, and who knows what this next part of the journey looks like, as far as getting back on the ice and trying to make a return to the NHL. There's never any guarantees in life, but I'm going to give it my best shot. I'm going to enjoy every step of the way."
Toews last suited up in an NHL game on April 13, 2023. Four months later, he announced he wasn't going to play during the 2023-24 season due to health reasons.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion missed the entirety of the 2020-21 campaign while contending with chronic immune response syndrome and symptoms of long COVID, which also forced him to sit out for two months in 2022-23.
"I didn't explore trying to sign another contract with anybody because I knew deep down I needed some time away from the game," Toews said. "I wanted to give my body the time and space to truly heal and figure this stuff out."
Toews largely stayed out of the public eye after stepping away from the sport but revealed in November he'd gone on "a bit of a healing journey" in India.
The 36-year-old underwent a five-week detox through a holistic practice known as Ayurveda, which included undergoing intense massages, induced vomiting, and enemas.
"I was a huge skeptic at first," Toews told Roberson. "I just kind of kept slowly opening myself up to the possibility that this could be helpful. Looking back, I'm so happy that I did it, and it just goes to show, for me, that, again, everyone's having their own experience, everyone's on their own journey. You're ready for what you're ready for."
Toews ranks sixth in the Chicago Blackhawks' record books in goals (372) and points (883) while sitting fifth in games played (1,067).