GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Jonathan Toews, the No. 3 pick in the NHL draft, will return to the University of North Dakota for his sophomore season instead of joining the Chicago Blackhawks.

"A huge part of my future," Toews said Wednesday of his decision to go back to school. "It's definitely going to be a blast and something I don't want to miss out on."

Toews turned down a $935,000 offer from Chicago.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound center from Winnipeg, Manitoba, said money had nothing to do with his decision to come back to North Dakota, which has lost five players and an assistant coach to the professional ranks this offseason.

"That sort of thing can wait," he said.

Toews scored 22 goals and added 17 assists as a 17-year-old freshman. He was chosen as the most outstanding player at the NCAA West Regional. He is a candidate to be the captain of Team Canada in the 2007 World Junior Championship.

"It wasn't do or die for [the Blackhawks]," Toews said. "They understood that I knew better what was best for me."