The Edmonton Oilers are in the thick of the playoff hunt, and as the NHL trade deadline creeps closer, conversations are heating up around how they can fortify their roster for a deep run. One name that’s popped up in recent chatter? Jonathan Toews.
Yes, that Jonathan Toews - the three-time Stanley Cup champion, former Conn Smythe winner, and one of the most respected two-way centers of his generation. While he's no longer the top-line force he once was in Chicago, Toews is still doing a few things at an elite level - and that’s where the Oilers’ interest starts to make sense.
Why Toews Could Fit in Edmonton
First off, let’s talk faceoffs. Toews is winning close to 70 percent of his draws right now - an absurd number, even for a guy with his pedigree.
In the playoffs, possession is everything, and a veteran who can consistently win you the puck in key moments is a luxury most contenders would love to have. The Oilers, for all their offensive firepower, could still use a reliable third-line center who can tilt the ice in the faceoff circle and bring some added structure to their bottom six.
They’re not necessarily looking for a flashy scorer here. They’re looking for someone who can quietly control the pace, win key draws, and chip in the kind of secondary offense that swings playoff series. Toews checks those boxes - and then some.
The Cap Complication
Of course, it’s not just about the on-ice fit. Toews’ contract comes with a web of performance bonuses that any acquiring team has to factor into their cap planning. Here’s the breakdown:
- $550,000 for hitting various games-played thresholds (20, 30, 40, 50, 60)
- $500,000 for making the playoffs and playing 50 games
- $250,000 for each playoff series win (Rounds 1-3), assuming he plays in at least half the games
- $1 million if his team wins the Stanley Cup and he plays in at least 50% of the games
So, if the Oilers were to go all the way and Toews played a significant role, his cap hit would balloon - and that’s something GM Ken Holland (and the front office) would need to navigate carefully. You can’t just slot Toews into the lineup without thinking two or three moves ahead. That said, if the Jets fall out of the playoff picture and are willing to retain salary or sweeten the deal, the acquisition cost might be low enough to justify the risk.
Familiarity Breeds Confidence
Another wrinkle? Oilers GM Ken Holland isn’t the only one in the front office with ties to Toews.
Stan Bowman, now part of Edmonton’s hockey operations team, knows Toews as well as anyone, having managed him during the Blackhawks’ dynasty years. If anyone has a clear read on what Toews still has in the tank - and how he might fit in a locker room chasing a Cup - it’s Bowman.
That kind of familiarity could give Edmonton an edge in both evaluating the move and managing expectations if a deal does happen.
Is It the Right Move?
There’s no such thing as a risk-free trade deadline acquisition. Every move shifts the roster puzzle, and as Jeff Marek pointed out in a recent discussion, solving one problem often creates another.
Edmonton already has some center depth - guys like Jack Roslovic, Adam Henrique, and Trent Frederic can all play down the middle in a pinch. Some fans argue that the smarter play would be to target a top-six winger and shift someone like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to 3C.
That’s a fair point. Centers are typically more expensive to acquire than wingers, and the Oilers have options internally. But if the front office believes that stacking strength down the middle is the key to getting over the hump - and that Toews can still deliver when it matters most - then this starts to look like a calculated gamble worth exploring.
Because in the playoffs, it's not just about having stars. It’s about having the right mix of experience, poise, and matchup flexibility. And Jonathan Toews, even in the twilight of his career, still brings a lot of that to the table.