The Edmonton Oilers, as with most NHL teams, are continually looking for ways to improve the roster and contend come playoff time. In this respect, if we were to tell you that someone was going to be available, who has a resume which includes three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy and six All-Star selections, this is surely the type of player general manager Stan Bowman should be making a play for?
Well, the player in question is Jonathan Toews, who decided to sit out the 2023-24 season to focus on his health. (He subsequently had to confirm he was not retiring, after some speculation.) This included dealing with issues of chronic inflammatory response syndrome and symptoms of long COVID.
Now, as per Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, Toews is preparing to make his return to the NHL. Seravalli went on to add that multiple teams are interested in signing him, with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets apparently at the front of the queue.
A connection between Toews and Bowman
Of course, it makes sense that some people would ask if the Oilers are one of the other teams interested in Toews? In particular, a link will naturally be made between the former Blackhawks player and Bowman, who was in Chicago between 2000 and 2021 and signed him to an eight-year, $84 million contact extension when he was general manager.
However, any potential reunion between Toews and Bowman in Edmonton becomes compromised by Seravalli noting that it is unclear at this time, if the centre will return at some point this season, or wait until the 2025-26 campaign. If he does return this season, the Oilers are less likely to be able to accommodate signing him.
In fairness though, even if Toews does wait until next season to come back and play, do the Oilers really want a player who will 37 by that point? While he has 883 career points to him name -- along with another 114 in the playoffs -- his best days as a tremendous two-way centre are arguably behind him now.
As a final point, as harsh as this will likely sound, there will be plenty of concern about how healthy Toews is and if he is now fully recovered from long COVID. Ultimately, there just seems to be too many obstacles to make signing the 2006 third overall draft pick a good idea for Bowman and the Oilers.