Jonathan Toews is doing his best to blend into his new surroundings.

While that might seem like a formality for someone as decorated as Toews, getting acclimated with a new organization and all that comes with it is an important part of this remarkable comeback with the Winnipeg Jets.

Although the wheels have been in motion for some time, the Winnipegger admits he’s dealt with some nerves during the introductory phase that comes before training camp officially gets underway next week.

BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Winnipeg Jets centre Jonathan Toews admits he dealt with some nerves in his return to pro hockey after being away from the rink for so long, but said it’s good be back on the ice.

“It’s been a lot of fun slowly getting to know guys,” said Toews, speaking to the media for the first time since July. “That’s something that will take a little while to get settled and comfortable in the locker room. In a way you want to show your respect, especially to the veteran guys in the room that set the tone and the example for this team every day. As I’ve been saying, I’ll just slowly find my way, contribute where I can, and find ways of doing that that respect the strengths of this group, too.”

After two full seasons out of the NHL as he dealt with a number of health issues, Toews is feeling good and has enjoyed being on the ice here during the past several weeks — as the group expanded from just a handful of NHLers to the bulk of the Jets squad, with the exception of a small number of guys that will be arriving during the next several days.

Because it’s been so long since he’s been in this setting, Toews is both enjoying getting back into a regular rhythm while also taking time to appreciate some of the tasks that may have occasionally felt tedious during his past several NHL seasons as he worked through those aforementioned health issues.

“It’s been a long time and, in a way too, it feels like the last couple years have gone by in the blink of an eye,” said Toews. “It’s almost like sometimes you don’t even remember what skate you put on first. Once you get going, you don’t even think about it and everything is muscle memory. It’s fun to just get back in that routine and in the structure of an NHL camp and NHL season.”

When you see Toews on the ice, it’s clear how hard he’s been training to put himself in the best position to succeed.

So, how is he feeling about where he’s at physically?

“Pretty good. When you’re away from the game for that long — no matter what — it takes some time to get things up to speed,” said Toews. “It feels good to be on the ice, you do a lot of three-on-three and small area stuff where you don’t have a lot of space. Those are the situations where you kind of get a little bit hasty, a little bit excited, and make a play that you wouldn’t have made if you were slowing things down and being a little bit more patient. That sort of thing will start coming back. I’m sure my game will progress and improve throughout the entire season too.”

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Jets captain Adam Lowry was thrilled to see Toews make the commitment to join the team during the off-season.

“Yeah, it’s been great,” said Lowry, who continues to work his way back from hip surgery. “Unfortunately, I’ve kind of been in solitary confinement on the other side of the ice, so I haven’t had the opportunity to get to see him out on the ice but talking to him throughout the summer and then getting to meet him for the first time here in the gym.

“He brings a wealth of knowledge and he’s got tremendous experience. There’s a reason why he’s as decorated as he is and seeing how he prepared himself in the gym, how he interacts with the guys, he’s fit right in. And I think you know there’s an excitement for him to get back and competing. And, you know, the buzz in the city is something else, something you feed off. We’re really excited to have a player of his calibre and stature in our organization.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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Ken Wiebe Reporter

Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.

Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.