Jets’ Jonathan Toews, Adam Lowry to start season with injured, non-roster designation
Jonathan Toews’ return to NHL game action might have to wait a little bit longer.
When the Winnipeg Jets announced their Opening Day roster, they gave both Toews and captain Adam Lowry an injured, non-roster designation.
Opening day roster is IN ✅
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Toews, the longtime captain of the Chicago Blackhawks and a three-time Stanley Cup champion with his former franchise, has not appeared in an NHL game since the 2022-23 season.
After taking time away from the sport to address a health condition, he chose to return this year, officially inking a contract with his hometown Jets on July 1 after previously agreeing to terms on June 20.
It’s set to be both a feel-good story and a potentially massively impactful addition for Winnipeg, a team that has found itself in contention in recent years but has struggled to find a solution behind first-line center Mark Scheifele.
Toews was still productive when we last saw him, as he produced 31 points in 53 games in an average of 17:43 of ice time per game.
Toews was labeled as day-to-day after tweaking something by head coach Scott Arniel on October 2, so there’s hope that this absence will not keep him off the ice for long.
Lowry also received the injured non-roster designation as he tries to make his way back following off-season hip surgery.
The 32-year-old Missouri native has been a reliable mainstay in the Jets’ bottom six, and he figures to be the team’s third line center when he makes his return.
Lowry tallied 16 goals and dished out 18 assists for 34 points in 73 regular season games a year ago before scoring four goals in 13 playoff games.
The Jets are set to get their 2025-26 season slate started with a home game against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
Assuming Toews and Lowry are both unable to go, fellow centers Vladislav Namestnikov and Morgan Barron would be likely to move up the lineup.