Legends of Hockey

The Hockey Legacy of Jonathan Toews

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Jonathan Toews was practically born with skates on his feet. The son of a university professor and a mother who instilled discipline, Toews displayed an uncanny hockey IQ from his earliest peewee games. His junior career with the University of North Dakota was nothing short of legendary—his overtime goal in the 2006 Frozen Four semifinals, scored while battling flu symptoms, became instant folklore. Drafted third overall by Chicago in 2006, he arrived as the franchise's savior during their darkest years.

Toews' peak years were a symphony of dominance. His 2010 playoff run—29 points in 22 games while shadowing opponents' top lines—cemented him as the NHL's premier two-way center. Who could forget his iconic backhand goal in Game 5 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, flipping the series against Boston? Or his 2015 Conn Smythe-worthy performance, playing through a broken wrist during the Western Conference Finals? Teammates still whisper about his pre-game rituals: meticulously arranging his gear in perfect symmetry, then playing Chopin nocturnes on the dressing room piano.

In later years, Toews battled chronic illness but returned for one last heroic chapter—scoring 60 points in 2021 after missing a full season. His retirement left a void in Chicago, where his number 19 now hangs from the rafters. Today, he mentors young players with the same thoughtful intensity he brought to faceoffs, forever changing how hockey values leadership. The 'Toews Shift'—a 45-second, game-changing possession—remains coaching shorthand for perfection.

Jonathan Toews