Could Jonathan Toews Be the Right Fit for the Oilers at the Deadline?
As the NHL trade deadline inches closer, the rumor mill is starting to churn, and one name that’s resurfacing in a potentially intriguing way is Jonathan Toews. The longtime Blackhawks captain and three-time Stanley Cup champion is currently with the Winnipeg Jets, but if the Jets stumble out of playoff contention in the coming weeks, the chatter around Toews being moved will only grow louder.
One potential landing spot? The Edmonton Oilers.
That idea was floated recently, with the suggestion that Toews could be a smart, low-cost addition for a team looking to make a deep playoff run. And when you break it down, the fit actually makes a fair bit of sense - with a few caveats.
What Toews Brings to the Table
Let’s start with what Toews still does at a high level. He’s trending in the right direction health-wise and remains one of the league’s elite faceoff men, winning close to 70% of his draws.
That’s not just good - that’s playoff gold. In the postseason, puck possession off the draw can tilt entire series, especially in tight, grind-it-out games where every inch of ice matters.
For a team like Edmonton, which has been searching for a reliable third-line center who can win key faceoffs and chip in offensively, Toews checks a lot of boxes. He brings leadership, experience, and a Stanley Cup pedigree - the kind of presence that can steady a bench when the pressure ratchets up in May and June.
The Cap Complication
Of course, it’s not that simple. Toews’ contract includes a series of performance bonuses that could complicate things for any team looking to bring him in. These aren’t minor details - they’re significant cap considerations.
Here’s how it breaks down: Toews earns $550K bonuses at 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 games played. There’s another $500K if he hits 50 games and the team makes the playoffs. Then, it gets even steeper - $250K per series win in Rounds 1 through 3, provided he plays at least 50% of the games, and a $1 million bonus if the team wins the Stanley Cup and he’s played half the games.
So, if Edmonton were to go all the way and Toews is in the lineup for half the postseason, he becomes a much more expensive piece. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something GM Ken Holland would have to map out carefully. You can’t just plug Toews into the roster and hope the numbers work themselves out later.
Familiar Faces and Familiar Stakes
It’s worth noting that Oilers general manager Ken Holland isn’t the only one who might have insight into Toews’ value. Edmonton’s front office includes Stan Bowman, the former Blackhawks GM who helped build those Cup-winning teams in Chicago. If anyone understands what Toews brings to a locker room and how he prepares for playoff hockey, it’s Bowman.
That kind of familiarity could be a major asset when evaluating whether Toews is the right fit - not just on the ice, but in the room.
The Bigger Picture for Edmonton
The Oilers are in an interesting spot. They’ve surged back into the playoff picture after a rocky start and now look like a team that could do serious damage in the postseason. But depth down the middle remains a question mark.
Yes, they’ve got internal options like Jack Roslovic, Adam Henrique, and Trent Frederic who can fill in at 3C if needed. And yes, it’s generally cheaper - asset-wise - to acquire a winger than a center at the deadline. But if the goal is to win now, and if the front office believes that adding a proven playoff performer like Toews could be the difference between a second-round exit and a trip to the Final, then the risk might be worth it.
There’s no perfect move at the deadline. Every acquisition comes with a trade-off - whether it’s cap space, future assets, or disrupting chemistry.
But stacking strength down the middle has always been a blueprint for playoff success. And if Toews is available for the right price, it’s a gamble that could pay off in a big way.
The question now is whether the Jets will be sellers - and if the Oilers are ready to bet on a player who’s been there, done that, and might just have one more run left in him.