Jonathan Toews

At 36 years old, Jonathan Toews has this physical status:

Jonathan Bryan Toews ( TAYVZ; born April 29, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently serves as captain of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Toews was selected by the Blackhawks with the third overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

He joined the team in 2007–08 and was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year.

The following season he was named team captain, becoming the second-youngest captain in NHL history (after Sidney Crosby) at the time.

Toews won the Stanley Cup in 2010, along with the Conn Smythe Trophy for the playoff MVP.

After winning the Cup, Toews passed Peter Forsberg as the youngest player to join the Triple Gold Club.

He won the Stanley Cup again in 2013 and 2015. Toews competes internationally for Team Canada and has won gold medals at the 2005 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships, 2007 World Championships, the 2010 Winter Olympics (a tournament in which he was named best forward) and the 2014 Winter Olympics.

In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players.

Personal life

Jonathan was born to Bryan Toews, an electrician at the University of Manitoba, and Andrée Gilbert, a native of Sainte-Marie, Quebec, who was the managing director and finance expert for a credit union in the Winnipeg region before retiring to oversee Toews' media relations. He is bilingual, speaking fluent French and English.

Like Toews, his brother David also attended Shattuck-Saint Mary's and began his freshman year at the University of North Dakota in 2008–09. His cousin Kai Toews is a professional basketball player.

In January 2007, Toews and former North Dakota teammate T. J. Oshie received alcohol-related citations for being minors in a Grand Forks, North Dakota, tavern. Toews and Oshie pleaded guilty to the charges. The two were later placed on probation and ordered to perform community service.

In the spring of 2010, a large mural of Toews visible from the Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago received a degree of notoriety. The mural depicted Toews with an abnormally shaped nose and mouth, posed beside a picture of the Stanley Cup (appropriately, Toews would end up holding the Cup after winning it later that year). Toews commented on the mural, stating: "I guess it's from a picture and they must have embellished it a little bit. They're not helping me by any means."

Following the celebration of Toews bringing the Stanley Cup to his hometown of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba announced that it would be naming a northern lake after Toews in honour of his success. The lake is located 150 km (93 mi) north of Flin Flon and is named Toews Lake. The same day, the Dakota Community Centre in St. Vital where Toews first played organized hockey was renamed the Jonathan Toews Community Centre. Additionally, he was given the Keys to the City to honour his achievement and strong work ethic.

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Playing career

The Toews were first drafted first overall in the 2003 WHL Bantam Draft by the Tri-City Americans, but they later decided to play midget AAA hockey at Shattuck-Saint Mary's, a boarding school in Faribault, Minnesota, during the 2003–2004 and 2004–05 seasons. The decision allowed him to maintain his NCAA eligibility. In his second season with Shattuck-Saint Mary's, Toews scored 110 points in 64 games before he moved on to college ice hockey.

Toews played two seasons at University of North Dakota, totaling 85 points (40 goals and 45 assists), a +38 plus-minus rating, and a 57% faceoff winning percentage in 76 games. He was a member of the University of Nevada in 2006 and 2007, and in his sophomore season as an alternate captain. Toews earned Rookie of the Week honors twice as a freshman and twice. He helped North Dakota win the Broadmoor Trophy as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) conference champions, as well as the West Regional MVP for tallying five points.

Toews was ranked third among North American prospects by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau in 2006, and the Chicago Blackhawks ultimately selected third overall.

After signing a three-year, entry-level deal with the Blackhawks in 2007, he dropped out of his final two years of college hockey eligibility to debut with the Blackhawks in 2007. In his first game against the San Jose Sharks on October 10, 2007, he scored his first NHL goal on his first shot. In each of his first ten games (five goals and five assists), he started his second-longest point-scoring streak to begin an NHL career, winning a point in each of his first ten games (five goals and five assists). In a game against the Los Angeles Kings on January 1, 2008, Toews strained his knee. Despite missing 16 games due to injury, Toews led all rookies in goal-scoring and finished third in points. Toews came in second in team scoring behind fellow rookie Patrick Kane. Before Toews went down to injury, Kane and Toews battled for the lead in team and rookie scoring all season. Both were selected for the Calder Memorial Trophy as a NHL rookie of the year, as well as Washington Capitals' Nicklas Bäckström; Toews finished as a runner-up to winner Kane.

Toews was named team captain of the Blackhawks on July 18, 2008, following his highly successful rookie season. He was the third-youngest team captain in NHL history at 20 years and 79 days, behind Sidney Crosby and Vincent Lecavalier. Gabriel Landeskog and Connor McDavid followed him later in this feat. During the 2007–08 season, Toews had previously been named an alternate captain. He was selected as a starter and partner Patrick Kane and Brian Campbell for the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal, Quebec, where he competed. In a 5–4 overtime loss to Pittsburgh, he netted his first hat-trick in the NHL on February 27, 2009. Toews played 69 points in 82 games during the 2008–09 season, leading the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup playoff appearance since 2002. He then scored 13 points in 17 playoff games as the Blackhawks advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they were eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings in five games.

Toews' season began less than a month ago, after suffering an open-ice hit from defenceman Willie Mitchell in a 3–2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on October 21, 2009. When Mitchell left the penalty box and examined him with his shoulder, he had his head down while receiving a pass in the neutral zone. Toews was sidelined for several games before returning to the line-up.

Toews, as well as teammates Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane, decided to extend in early December 2009. His five-year contract was structured in a similar manner to Kane's, earning him approximately $6.5 million per year. In 76 games, the Toews had 68 points on the season.

Toews and two others scored his second hat-trick and two assists during the 2010 playoffs, leading the Blackhawks to a 7–4 victory over Vancouver. Toews led Chicago to the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship since 1961, beating the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 of the Finals on June 9, 2010. He was the second-youngest captain in the NHL to win the Cup, behind Sidney Crosby, who led the Pittsburgh Penguins to the championship last season. In the playoffs, Toews scored seven goals and 29 points, and he coveted the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. He became the youngest player in the Stanley Cup and World Championship by winning the Stanley Cup, making him the youngest player to play for the Triple Gold Club at 22 years old.

Toews was chosen to be the cover star for EA Sports' video game NHL 11, which was released on June 21, 2010. As teammate Patrick Kane had been on the front page of NHL 10, it was the first time in EA Sports history that two members of the same team were featured on a video game cover two years in a row.

Toews made a career-high 76 points in 80 games during the 2010-11 season. The Blackhawks were forced to part trade several of their players from last season's championship-winning squad, including Antti Niemi, Dustin Byfuglien, Kris Versteeg, and Andrew Laddd, due to salary cap space. As a result, the Blackhawks barely made the 2011 playoffs, finishing the regular season as the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference. In the first round against the Vancouver Canucks, the Blackhawks won three straight games to advance to a deciding Game 7. With 1:26 remaining in regulation, Toews scored a short-handed game-tying goal. The Canucks, on the other hand, defeated the Blackhawks by five minutes during the ensuing overtime period. In the seven-game series, Toews gained four points.

Toews had intended to participate in the 2012 All-Star Game, but an injury sustained during a 5–2 loss to the Nashville Predators prevented him from playing; Scott Hartnell took his place. Toews made 57 points in a season of injuries. He returned to play in the 2012 playoffs, scoring the overtime champion in Game 5 to bring the series back to Chicago for Game 6, where the opposition Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Blackhawks from the playoffs.

Toews returned to form in 2013's lockout season. He was instrumental in the Blackhawks winning the President' Trophy as the team with the most winning regular-season record. Toews led the Blackhawks to a Finals over the Boston Bruins in 2013, Chicago's second title in three seasons. He was also named to the league's second All-Star team at the end of the year, and was also named to the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward.

On October 29, 2013, Toews scored his second natural hat-trick of his NHL career against Craig Anderson of the Ottawa Senators. Toews' 2013-14 season was another fruitful season. He had 28 goals and 40 assists for 68 points in 76 games. In 19 games, the Blackhawks' 2014 playoff campaign reached overtime, with Toews scoring 17 points (nine goals and eight assists) in 19 games. He finished third in voting behind winner Patrice Bergeron and first runner-up Ane Kopitar for the second year in a row.

The Blackhawks and teammate Patrick Kane announced on July 9, 2014, that Toews, as well as teammate Patrick Kane, had signed an eight-year contract with the Blackhawks, earning an average annual salary of $10.5 million. The 2015–16 season will begin on July 1, 2015.

Toews scored the game's first two goals in Game 7 of the 2015 Western Conference Final, beating the Anaheim Ducks 5–3. After the team's Game 6 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning 2–0, Toews led the Blackhawks to their third Stanley Cup title in six seasons. Toews was named the winner of the Mark Messier Leadership Award, a prize given to the individual "in recognition of his contribution and service to charities in his community," as well as exemplifying a strong leadership ability in hockey on June 24, beating out fellow finalists Ryan Getzlaf and Andrew Ladd. In 2015, Toews was also voted 'Best NHL Player' by an ESPY Award. Toews will be selected by Electronic Arts to appear on the front page of NHL 16.

Toews was selected to compete in the 2016 All-Star Game but had to cancel due to illness. He was suspended for one game as a result of his inability to attend the All-Star game.

Toews sustained a back injury during the 2016–17 Chicago Blackhawks season, causing him to miss nine games. He was nominated for the 2017 National Hockey League All-Star Game.

During the 2017-to-earth season, Toews' production dropped by 52 points, his lowest level in history. To help him get ready for the forthcoming season, he revealed a new exercise regimen and diet plan. When playing in all 82 games for Chicago during the 2018–19 season, a revived Toews scored a career-high 81 points.

During the 2019–20 Chicago Blackhawks season, the toews appeared in 70 games, but the COVID-19 pandemic was postponed. During the campaign, he scored 18 goals and 42 assists, while eclipsing the 800-career milestone. During the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Toews also scored a team-high nine points in nine games.

The Blackhawks revealed to Toews will be out indefinitely while recovering from an undisclosed illness ahead of the 2020–21 season. He missed the entire season before announcing in June 2021 that he had been suffering from chronic immune response syndrome (RCS) and that he was scheduled to return for the 2021-2022 season. He said an antibody test revealed he had COVID-19 at some time in September 2021. On March 31, 2022, the Toews played his 1000th regular season game of his career. Toews was on the Blackhawks for 71 games, scoring 12 goals and 25 assists for a career-low 37 points. He also had a 57% win-rate, which was the third highest in the NHL among all centers with at least 1000 faceoff draws.

Career statistics

Bold indicates led league

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Awards, honours and championships

• World U-17 Hockey Challenge MVP — 2005 World U-17 Hockey Challenge — 2005
• WCHA Rookie of the Week — twice in 2005–2006
• NCAA West Regional MVP — 2006
• World Junior All-Star team — 2007
• Nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy — 2008
• 5× NHL All-Star (2009, 2011, 2012,* 2015, 2016*, 2017)
  * – Did not attend due to injury/illness.
• All-Star selection of the 2010 Olympic Hockey Tournament
• 2010 Winter Olympics — Gold Medalist, Best Forward
• 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy winner
• Second-youngest to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (22 years, 41 days; only Patrick Roy was younger); youngest captain to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
• Youngest person to gain entry into the Triple Gold Club (22 years, 41 days at time last component was achieved)
• Named full captain of an NHL team after only 64 NHL games; fifth-youngest full captain (Connor McDavid, Gabriel Landeskog, Sidney Crosby and Vincent Lecavalier being the others) in NHL history.
• One of only eight players to win Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same year.
• 2013 Frank J. Selke Trophy winner
• 2013 NHL second All-Star team
• 2014 Winter Olympics — Gold Medalist
• 2015 Mark Messier Leadership Award winner
• 2015 ESPY Best NHL Player
• 2016 World Cup of Hockey gold medal
• Named on 100 Greatest NHL Players list for NHL's Centennial Anniversary
• NHL 11 cover athlete
• NHL 16 cover athlete