Jonathan Toews' possible NHL comeback needs to be seen to be believed

Could Jonathan Toews return to the NHL? The far-fetched idea is quickly becoming more plausible.

Although it's unclear whether the 36-year-old former Blackhawks captain has fully committed to attempting a comeback or if he's merely considering it, something is brewing.

In an interview last week with GQ magazine, during which Toews mostly described the intense, outlandish treatments he experienced during an Ayurvedic detox in India earlier this year, he also mentioned his hockey itch had returned.

"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," Toews, who will turn 37 in April, told GQ.

"There’s a part of me that really doesn’t feel like my career is over yet. 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."

On Thursday, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported Toews has resumed skating and gotten down to playing weight, and a number of NHL teams are interested. (Toews' agent, Pat Brisson, has not responded to several Sun-Times requests for comment.)

Suddenly, this seems real. It's conceivable Toews could be lacing up skates either later this season — he would need to be under contract by the March 7 trade deadline to be eligible for the playoffs — or at the start of next season.

That would be heartening and fascinating in so many ways, and the aforementioned hockey community would rally behind him. Although his return almost certainly wouldn't happen with the Hawks — the organization wants to develop a new generation of leaders, and Toews would probably prefer a Stanley Cup contender — Hawks fans would be especially excited to watch him again.

Objectively, however, this comeback needs to be seen before it can be believed.

Toews would be the 26th-oldest player in the NHL today. In terms of career games — if he had played continuously since the pandemic hit — he would be even closer to the top of the list. Since he entered the league at age 19 and enjoyed so many long playoff runs, he has weathered a lot of grueling hockey.

In that sense, maybe Toews will benefit from the fact he took the 2021 season off and also hasn't played in nearly two years. Maybe that will allow him to come back fresher and more rejuvenated than someone like current Hawks forward Pat Maroon, who is six days older.

It's gratifying regardless to hear Toews believes he has overcome the worst of long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome, conditions which had reduced him to a shell of his former self for some time.

After his final Hawks game in April 2023, he admitted he looked forward to letting his guard down and finding out where normal life could take him, and it has clearly taken him far. His Instagram practically resembles a travel blog; he has globe-trotted from Nevada to Indonesia, Slovakia to British Columbia, plus of course India.

But returning to professional sports after a nearly two-year absence would be extremely difficult for anyone. Doing so after not competing at any level — or even practicing — throughout the absence would be even more difficult.

And doing so at Toews' age and with Toews' body, given all it has gone through, seems borderline impossible.

If anyone can do it, it may be Toews. His combination of talent, determination, work ethic and leadership are rivaled by few in the modern NHL; he will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer as a result. His contemporary, Patrick Kane, also blew past all reasonable expectations when returning from hip resurfacing surgery just last season, for what that's worth.

Until Toews proves he can do this, though, a sizable dose of skepticism is necessary.