Jets' Jonathan Toews played in his first-ever game with Winnipeg after being on a layoff that lasted longer than two years, and he revealed all his emotions. Tuesday evening wasn't a fairy tale, but for Jonathan Toews, it <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/winnipeg-jets-announce-when-jonathan-toews-is-expected-to-make-his-team-debut' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>was the beginning chapter of his return</a>. Skating for the first time in his professional life as a Winnipeg Jet, Toews proved he has plenty left to give after a two-year hiatus due to health issues. I'm just excited to play hockey again. - Jonathan Toews <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/mikemcintyrewpg/status/1970702917901721759'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> The 37-year-old center played steadily in his preseason debut, although, of course, there was a natural amount of rust, in a 3-2 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers at Canada Life Centre. Some good. Some not-so-good. I felt like I made some plays and as the game went along relaxed a bit, said Toews. I think the conditioning is going to come, the jump is going to come. The three Stanley Cup winner was not celebrating afterward, but Jets fans showed him how much his return was appreciated. <h3>Jets Fans Showered Toews With Cheers as He Took to the Ice for the First Time</h3> Toews was greeted with a scream of appreciation from the crowd when he was announced for lineups, again for taking the first faceoff of the game, and continued the momentum by winning 10 others in 19 attempts. He played 18:36 of ice time, including two crucial faceoff wins in the final moments of the third period when Winnipeg was attempting to score its equalizer. While increasingly known for his hockey smarts over pure speed, Toews demonstrated moments of both. A sound backcheck got Edmonton's Max Jones tied up on a partial breakaway, while quick reads on linemates Gustav Nyquist and Cole Perfetti almost resulted in goals. It's nice to catch the guy. Good scoring chance there. I think it was on the power play though, so, obviously, we can make better plays there, said Toews. <a href='https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/09/23/toews-impressive-in-hometown-debut' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Jets head coach Scott Arniel was impressed with the debut</a>, saying Toews made a tremendous first impression in his new jersey. There was some good stuff. I thought he picked up our systems, Arniel said. There were other times where yeah, he could be a little better, and I think that's just from rust. I think that's just timing, getting to know his linemates. I think there was a little bit of both there. It was a good first game and I know for a fact that he'll be better in the next one. Although it wasn't a perfect night, Toews' on-ice presence gave more than enough positives and a sense of what could be in the future. For the Jets faithful, Tuesday was about so much more than the result and an awful lot more about the return of an established leader hoping to begin anew.