Speculation about where Jonathan Toews would restart his NHL career logically pointed to his hometown team, and that prediction has proven correct. The question now is whether this move will be an ideal fit.
Once it became known that Toews intended to return to playing after a two-year break, a move to his local team seemed probable. This likelihood became reality on Friday when Toews signed a one-year, incentive-based contract with the Winnipeg Jets.
Even purely from a sentimental perspective, this signing is commendable. At 37, Toews has achieved every major hockey accolade. If his primary motivation was simply to play NHL hockey again in his hometown, overcoming his health challenges (long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome), then this opportunity is well-deserved.
Furthermore, even if the Jets` goal was partly to boost attendance by bringing in a local icon, it`s hard to fault them for it.
However, the true value of this signing is that it offers benefits beyond just sentimentality; it makes sense strategically as well.
The Jets have consistently needed a reliable second-line center to complement Mark Scheifele. Despite past efforts via trade deadlines for players like Paul Stastny, Kevin Hayes, and Sean Monahan, they haven`t found a lasting fix. While 2020 draft pick Cole Perfetti seems destined for a top-six role long-term, he is not expected to play center.
Even under normal circumstances, Winnipeg faces challenges attracting players through free agency or trades, as some players may be hesitant to play in Manitoba. This off-season is proving particularly difficult for all teams to make significant acquisitions, given a strong seller`s market and a scarce pool of available elite centers.
The probability of Winnipeg acquiring a high-caliber second-line center to play behind Scheifele was exceptionally low.
Compounding this need, Adam Lowry, recognized as one of the league`s top third-line centers, will miss the beginning of next season recovering from hip surgery, making the need for depth at center even more critical for Winnipeg.
This is where Toews comes in.
It`s important not to view Toews as a guaranteed solution or `savior.` There`s no certainty that a player who previously starred as a top-line center can handle a full-time second-line role after two years off and approaching his 40th birthday.
However, the situation provides Toews the opportunity to find his footing. He has immediate support from Vlad Namestnikov, who has previously filled center roles for Winnipeg. Additional depth will become available later when Lowry returns.
For the team, any contribution from Toews early on will be valuable. From Toews` perspective, he gets a chance to ease back into the game while the team manages without Lowry. If, by the season`s midpoint (around 41 games), he isn`t consistently performing as a second-line center, Lowry`s return will provide options. In that scenario, even if a true 2C isn`t found, they would have two players capable of playing as above-average third-line centers.
