Jonathan Toews likely to join Maple Leafs as NHL return sparks mixed reactions
Jonathan Toews likely to join Maple Leafs as NHL return sparks mixed reactions (Image Source: Getty Images)
Jonathan Toews, a 37-year-old NHL star and three-time Stanley Cup winner, is planning a return to hockey. He has been away since April 2023 due to health issues caused by long COVID.
Now, after months of rest and training, he says he is ready. His agent Pat Brisson confirmed that Jonathan Toews is fully committed to playing next season. With NHL free agency opening on July 1, teams are already showing interest, including the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Jonathan Toews open to joining Toronto Maple Leafs
Jonathan Toews stopped playing in April 2023. He left to focus on his health after long-term effects from COVID-19 made it hard for him to continue. He travelled to different places, looking for treatments.
Since then, he has been training privately to prepare for a comeback.
\
On May 29, 2025, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun shared that Pat Brisson, Toews's agent, said Toews will be ready for offers starting July 1. Brisson also said that Toews is open to all teams. One of them is the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was also confirmed by hockey reporter Nick Alberga from The Leafs Nation.
Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving spoke after the season ended in May 2025.
He said the team's 'DNA' needs to change. He added that the Maple Leafs need leaders — players who know how to win. Treliving did not name Toews directly but said the team is looking for experienced veterans.
Also Read:
Veteran Jonathan Toews Ready For NHL Return With Maple Leafs Reportedly In The Mix
Jonathan Toews could bring leadership to the Maple Leafs' locker room
Jonathan Toews has played 1,067 NHL games. With the Chicago Blackhawks, he won the Stanley Cup three times; he also received the Selke Trophy, presented to the top defensive forward in the league. Many think he still possesses great leadership, even if he hasn't played in more than a year.
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk once declared Toews to be among the most admired players in hockey. Should Toews join the Maple Leafs, he could be employed in depth capacity, like as third-line center. His knowledge could benefit the squad under tense postseason games.
There are still questions about his health. But those close to him say he feels strong and is ready to return.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
8 minutes ago
- Indian Express
JEE Advanced 2025: District-level cricketer Saksham Jindal bags AIR 2, wants CSE at IIT-Bombay
Once an under-14 district-level cricketer, Saksham Jindal had dreams of making it big in cricket. However, the Covid-19 pandemic altered his path as he could not go out to practice because of the lockdown. It was during this time that Jindal developed an interest in mathematics and participated in the Olympiads. 'Since then, his confidence in the subject increased, which boosted him to pursue JEE Advanced,' said Umesh Jindal, his father. JEE Advanced Result 2025 Live Updates The 17-year-old scored 100 percentile in JEE Main 2025 Session 1 and secured 295 out of 300 marks. In the JEE Advanced results 2025, he scored 332 marks. His father credits this achievement to his son's unwavering dedication, clear sense of purpose, and strong mentorship. Saksham now plans to take admission at IIT Bombay to pursue BTech in Computer Science Engineering. JoSAA Counselling 2025 Explained Born into a family of doctors with mother Dr Anita Jindal, a physiotherapist, and father Umesh Jindal, a pathologist, and sister who is a NEET aspirant, Saksham went out of his family league to become an engineer. AIR 1 Rajit Gupta shares his JEE Advanced 2025 success mantra Hailing from Hisar, Haryana, they were first skeptical to send Saksham to Kota for preparation due to various alarming concerns; however, after speaking to peers, seniors and staying in Kota, they decided to allow Saksham to stay in the city. 'With a strong interest in mathematics, Saksham participated in various international and regional Olympiads like IMO and RMO, but after starting JEE preparation, he focused on fulfilling his dream to pursue BTech in computer science at IIT Bombay,' said his father. Sharing his preparation strategy, his father said, 'He tried his best to understand every chapter in depth and practice questions as many times as he could. This strengthened his confidence. For JEE Advanced, he relied on the NCERT syllabus and mock tests.' Unlike other students, he did not completely cut off from social media, but restricted its use.
Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
JEE-Advanced: Students from Kota coaching centres secure 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th ranks
Four students from preparatory centres at Rajasthan's coaching hub of Kota have secured the first, second, sixth, and seventh positions in this year's Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced (JEE-Advanced) for admissions to premier engineering colleges. Rajit Gupta, 18, who secured the first rank, said his father, Deepak Gupta, a sub-divisional engineer in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, inspired him. 'My father has been an inspiration,' said Rajit Gupta, whose mother, Shruti Agrawal, teaches home science at a Kota college. He added that his father prepared for the Rajasthan Pre-Engineering Test (RPET) at the same Kota institute where he studied. 'He ranked 48th in RPET in 1994,' said Rajit Gupta, who ranked 16th in the JEE (Mains) for admissions to undergraduate engineering, architecture, and planning courses. Rajit Gupta credited his focus on ensuring he did not repeat his mistakes for his success. '...because only when the mistakes are removed, the foundation of your subject becomes strong,' he said. He called happiness the key. 'I remain happy in every situation. Even now, if I get a chance, I play with the children in my neighbourhood. I am confident about my preparation. I never followed a strict schedule for studies because it creates unnecessary pressure. I used to study only when I felt like it, but for whatever time I studied, I studied well.' Rajit Gupta, who got 332 out of 350 marks, looked forward to studying at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. Saksham Jindal, 18, who is from Haryana and secured the second rank, said he dreamt of being a cricketer before the Covid-19 lockdown. 'I played at the under-14 level in Haryana's Hisar district. But my practice stopped during Covid-19. I had no clue what to do. I found my new interest in puzzle games and mathematics-based activities. I also started appearing for Olympiads. Gradually, I decided to take JEE,' said Jindal. Jindal said his parents are doctors in Hisar, who gave him full freedom to choose what he wanted. 'Two years ago, I decided to come to Kota and prepare for JEE. It was challenging. But you can achieve anything when you have dedication and proper guidance that I got from my coaching institute,' said Jindal, who is set to join IIT Bombay. Majid Mujahid Hussain, who is from Maharashtra's Jalgaon, secured the third rank after preparing for the exam at Madhya Pradesh's Burhanpur, around 100 km away. He said he chose a school in Burhanpur, along with his twin brother, Sajid, to avoid the undue pressure and hustle and bustle of bigger cities. Hussain, who secured 97% marks in class 12, said that a big city and coaching might give exposure to students, but they have no role in a deeper understanding of concepts. 'I am glad that my teachers and family helped me in my studies and supported me mentally,' said Hussain, whose brother secured the 1,600th rank. He added that he studied 12-14 hours daily and concentrated on understanding the concepts. 'After success in the JEE (Mains), I spent 10-12 hours on revision. I was expecting a good rank in the JEE-Advanced.' He called focus and self-confidence key to success. Hussain's father, Mujahid, a professor at Jalgaon University, said, 'I am happy that my son made us proud. He was an intelligent boy since childhood and won Olympiads in school.' Akshat Kumar and Devesh Kumar, who also studied in Kota, secured the sixth and eighth ranks. Kota, the hub of India's test preparation business, estimated to be worth ₹10,000 crore annually, has been in the news for student suicides. Students from around the country arrive there in numbers after completing class X and register in residential institutes, besides enrolling in schools, largely for certification purposes. According to police data, 15 students died by suicide in Kota in 2022, 18 in 2019, 20 in 2018, seven in 2017, 17 in 2016, and 18 in 2015. No suicides were reported in 2020 and 2021 as coaching institutes were shut or ran in online mode due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In January 2024, the Union education minister issued instructions for the functioning of coaching centres and restricted the enrolment of students only above 16. It warned of a penalty of ₹1,00,000 for institutes in case of any violation.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Who is Priya Saroj? Supreme Court lawyer, youngest MP from UP, now set to get engaged to cricketer Rinku Singh
Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj, one of India's youngest parliamentarians, will be engaged to Indian cricketer Rinku Singh on June 8 in Lucknow. Saroj, who currently represents Uttar Pradesh's Machhlishahr constituency, entered politics in 2024 and has made headlines not just for her win but now also for her personal life. Political career backed by legal background Born in Karkhiyaon village near Varanasi, Priya Saroj is the daughter of Tufani Saroj, a three-time MP and current MLA from Kerakat. Although she comes from a political family, Priya initially focused on law. She studied at Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute in New Delhi and went on to complete her LLB from Amity University, Noida. She later practiced law at the Supreme Court of India. In an interview with The Indian Express, Saroj said she did not plan to enter politics. 'Growing up, I never imagined stepping into politics. After graduating in law, I was preparing for judgeship exams during the Covid-19 pandemic. Even when my ticket was announced, I was attending online classes for those exams,' she said. In the 2024 elections, she contested from Machhlishahr and won by defeating BJP's BP Saroj by a margin of over 35,000 votes. Congratulations Cricketer Rinku Singh and MP Priya Saroj both of you 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐@PriyaSarojMP @rinkusingh235 Relationship with Rinku Singh Rinku Singh, a cricketer from Aligarh, UP, is known for his performances with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He gained national attention after hitting five consecutive sixes in the final over of a 2023 match. According to family sources, Priya and Rinku met through mutual contacts and have known each other for over a year. Speaking to PTI, Tufani Saroj confirmed the engagement and said, 'Rinku and Priya have known each other for more than a year now. They both liked each other but needed their families' consent for the relationship. Both families have agreed to this marriage.'
