“It (was) really exciting before the game,” Toews said. “Once you get your legs out under you, you just go out there and play. As the game went on (I tried) not to think about it too much and just enjoy it."

Jonathan Toews received a hero’s welcome — a thunderous ovation from hometown fans during player introductions prior to puck drop.

The club’s highlight free-agent signing was in the lineup as the Jets kicked off the regular season with a 5–4 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday night at Canada Life Centre.

“There was just a lot of energy and a lot of excitement,” Toews said about the spontaneous eruption of emotion from the capacity crowd. “I was just trying to contain myself there.”

Toews centred a line between Gustav Nyquist and Nikita Chibrikov. Cole Perfetti was slated for the

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