With Jonathan Toews ready to return and prove he still has something to give, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman might be tempted to sign the veteran forward. As you know, it’s been a minute since Toews last graced the ice. And when we last saw him play, the former Blackhawks captain was already on the decline.
Toews last played in 2022-23, putting up 31 points and 15 goals in 53 games, a far cry from the damage he did during the Blackhawks dynasty seasons. Now looking to return following a long layoff, Toews will certainly want to play for a championship contender…or a team featuring a few of his former teammates.
Should the Red Wings re-sign Patrick Kane, there’s a chance he’ll lobby to bring in Toews, who would likely join the middle six, if signed. And although Kane’s been a success story, it’s hard to see the same thing happening with a player who hasn’t played in two full seasons and is also aging.
Jonathan Toews would be a risk and a half for the Red Wings
Toews has another former teammate in town. Alex DeBrincat joined the Blackhawks during their waning seasons before he spent a season in Ottawa and ultimately landed with the Red Wings. He’s another familiar face who could talk up Toews to Steve Yzerman, but still, the Wings general manager must weigh the risks here.
This isn’t to say Toews can’t play anymore, but would he help this Red Wings team make a deep playoff run? Probably not. It would be one thing if they were coming off a successful season that involved them making a second-round exit. If they were in the same position as the Winnipeg Jets, I’d say, “By all means, sign him.” But that ain’t the case.
While the Red Wings need to keep adding talent, it shouldn’t involve a guy who you don’t even know can still play. Yzerman should’ve learned this lesson after watching Vladimir Tarasenko sputter all season, so to add another forward who’s even older and hadn’t even played in a while is nonsense.
Toews would be an outstanding supplementary player for a serious contender
If Toews returned and played about 13-14 minutes a game for a team that has other players doing the heavy lifting, his return will be a success story, no doubt. Put him in Winnipeg, where he could sidle into the third line. Or Dallas, where he’d likely play a similar role. But Detroit might still have a gap or two in its top six, and they’re far from elite.
Instead, I’d go after a free agent forward well into their prime if I’m Steve Yzerman and I don’t plan on moving another prospect up. This team’s close to breaking their playoff drought, as they proved over the past two seasons. And Toews would help them end it for good if he returned and hit the ground running.
But is he helping them contend for a top-three spot in the Atlantic? Would his presence help the Wings get past the first round of the playoffs? Probably not. He’d be a decent supplement, at best, in Detroit, and there are far better options in the free agent market.
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