Jonathan Toews issues stern message to Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel

Jonathan Toews is an NHL player again. He'll be starting the 2025-26 season with his hometown team, the Winnipeg Jets.

This is only after an absence of two years since he left the game of hockey to focus on his health. He'd find a way to control his chronic illnesses (CIRS and Long Covid) through unconventional methods, Ayurveda, and "Panchakarma".

He has been skating recently to prepare for his eventual return and to find his footing on the ice after such a long absence.

Now, the three-time Stanley Cup champion has issued a statement to head coach Scott Arniel about next season.

In a word, he doesn't want to be given anything but a chance and will accept a bottom-six spot in the lineup. He wants to earn a role in the top nine, should his play is good enough. This situation is ideal for the Jets, as they approach this season focused on going deeper into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

A task that Toews shouldn't have an issue helping with.

He approaches his newest task with realistic expectations, which could be a reason the Jets could once again be contenders in 2026.

The former three-time Stanley Cup champion signed a one-year deal in Winnipeg, paying him an AAV of $2 million for 2025-26.

Like Patrick Kane, he's found himself leveraging his past experiences to find a new home and a new role in his new organization's lineup.

Now that he's going to be the newest fixture in the Jets lineup, things can only go up from here.

Toews has played a total of 1067 games in the NHL, with 883 points scored (372-511) and won three-Stanley Cups.

He'll now get to experience playoff hockey in April, should he be the right fit for this extraordinary Jets team.