The Chicago Blackhawks would love to bring Jonathan Toews back for one day to retire with the team, contrasting how Mats Sundin's tenure with Toronto ended.
Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson knows how important Toews is to the franchise and wants him to retire as part of the team, stating recently during Patrick Kane's press conference that he would love to have Toews back:
We'd love to have Jonathan back and bring him back, we did it with (former forward) Marian Hossa. Nothing is set in stone or anything, but I think it's likely we'll go down (that path).
The Blackhawks' sixth-leading point scorer of all-time took a brief hiatus from hockey after the 2022-23 season due to health concerns and took a sabbatical to India in order to seek alternative treatment.
No ceremony has been announced as of yet, but it brings into new light how the Maple Leafs and Mats Sundin's partnership ended. Sundin retired after signing a one-year deal with Vancouver in 2008-09 and announced his retirement later - without Toronto giving him the chance to retire here.
Jonathan Toews might receive the ending that Mats Sundin never had
Toews suffered from Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and the effects of long-COVID, which left him physically unable to continue playing. After seeking treatment, Toews returned to the ice in 2025-26 with the Winnipeg Jets, recording 29 points while playing all 82 games (11 goals, 18 assists).
The Winnipeg native carved out a legendary career in Chicago with 883 points in 1,067 games, three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe, a Selke, was named to the NHL's 100th Anniversary Team in 2017-18 as one of the league's Top 100 players and with his right-hand man Patrick Kane created one of the most dominant duos in hockey history.
All of this hard work and determination to get through a serious illness and come back shows the toughness of Toews, and Chicago wants to honour their former captain properly.
Toews knows he's finished playing, and it feels like the Blackhawks will do everything in their power to give Toews the send-off he deserves which is the inverse of what Toronto did with their former captain.
Mats Sundin's return to the Maple Leafs comes without a retirement ceremony
Focusing on Sundin, he captained Toronto for 11 years, was part of their most successful run since the post-'93 era, was a staunch leader both on the ice and in the community, and did so while engineering some incredible offensive numbers.
But fast forward to 2026 and Sundin is back in a very important role. Hired as a Senior Advisor to GM John Chayka in May, he's helping transform the Maple Leafs into a passionate team that fans are going to be excited and hopeful for once again.
He now gets the chance to actively help shape the franchise he led for so long, and while a one-day contract would have been appropriate - it always felt like Sundin would make his way back in some capacity.
In supporting culture and player development, he's someone who has a lot of respect around the organization, and players will be more inclined to listen to his advice.
Sundin put up 987 points in 981 games which is the franchise record for points, and he sits second all-time in goals (420), second in assists (567), and first in powerplay goals (124). One of the most beloved in history, the team never gave him a one-day deal to retire as a member of the club.
They did however retire his #13, he's on Legends Row, and got a hero's welcome when he returned as a member of the Canucks. Toronto couldn't ignore his accomplishments obviously, but of all the ways to honour Sundin, they neglected one of the most important.
Much like a year in Winnipeg didn't tarnish Toews' legacy in Chicago (you can't change what he did), that year in Vancouver didn't tarnish Sundin's either. He's still a player who is regarded as the greatest Maple Leaf of all time with fans young and old knowing how important he is to the franchise.
A one-day contract would have been nice, but a chance to build a winner in the city that idolizes you is a much sweeter ending.
Do you think Toronto did Mats Sundin a disservice by not signing him to retire with the Maple Leafs?
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