The Vancouver Canucks find themselves at a crossroads as the 2025-26 season looms on the horizon, with their focus laser-set on strengthening their center position. One option that's been catching the attention of fans and pundits alike is the potential signing of Jonathan Toews. However, while the idea of bringing in the former Chicago Blackhawks captain might seem exciting at first glance, a deeper dive reveals that this could be a mismatched fit for both parties.
Jonathan Toews, a legendary figure in the hockey world with three Stanley Cups to his name, is exploring an NHL comeback. After sitting out the past two seasons, he’s been navigating the difficult road to recovery from long COVID and chronic inflammatory response syndrome.
There's no question that for any team looking to make a serious playoff push, adding a seasoned veteran like Toews would be enticing. But as far as the Canucks are concerned, this might not be the path to take.
Why wouldn’t this work? From Toews’ side, joining the Canucks might not align with his personal ambitions, especially at the age of 37.
The team’s landscape, which includes concerns surrounding Filip Chytil's health and Elias Pettersson's struggles with his own injuries, could demand Toews play more than 19 minutes a game under the crunch of competition. That’s a heavy workload for someone re-entering the league after a lengthy hiatus.
Moreover, consider the risk for Toews himself. If his comeback doesn't pan out as expected, he wouldn’t want to finish on a disappointing note. He’s expressed confidence in having "high-level hockey" left, according to recent discussions, but if his comeback falters, it's easier to blend into the fabric of a deeper, more stable roster than risk appearing past his prime on a team that’s rebuilding its core.
For the Canucks, banking on a healthily functioning center needs more certainty than hope. Investing in a player who's had a two-year layoff due to serious health issues doesn’t seem reliable. Even with his illustrious past, Toews isn't likely to come at a bargain price, and Vancouver might be wiser to consider other options like Pius Suter, who could offer more assurance for the dollar spent.
The bottom line? For the Canucks to seriously consider Toews, they'd have to believe they could pull off a Cinderella story and surprise the league with a championship run. But the more pragmatic approach would be ensuring they’re strategically setting up for a more certain future, relying on players free of long-term health uncertainties.
