Cup Long Shots Jonathan Toews May Look At

Teams that missed out on Bo Horvat might look toward the Chicago Blackhawks and Jonathan Toews over the next couple of weeks. There’s been no confirmation that Toews is going to approve a trade out of Chicago, but the belief is that he inevitably will and that means a mix of offers that would allow a team to bring in his leadership, some forward depth, and playoff experience at a potentially lower acquisition price.

Teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, and Boston Bruins are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, so it’s only natural that most insiders would peg them as the favorites to also land Toews. All three teams have already been linked in the rumor mill. But, are there teams that Toews might consider that aren’t being talked about all that often?

Edmonton Oilers Might Want Center Depth

The Edmonton Oilers’ were considered early contenders but being in a Wild Card spot currently makes them Stanley Cup long shots. That could change if their hot streak continues and the more it does, the more Toews might be attracted to them as an option.

The Oilers’ willingness to spend assets on another center will come down to one thing: are they playing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same line or not? If so, that moves Ryan Nugent-Hopkins up to the second-line center spot or opens a spot in the top six. Toews would fit nicely in either role.

The Oilers were rumored to be a longshot option for Horvat and with him off the board, it makes sense they’d consider Toews. The money is an issue, so a third team would need to give involved here to act as a broker and get Toews’ salary down to around $2.7 million. If doable, one has to wonder if Toews would consider playing in Canada for the remainder of the season.

No doubt, Duncan Keith — who actively works with the Oilers behind the scenes now — could play a role here in recruiting Toews. Word is that Keith has already spoken with Patrick Kane about any potential decision to leave the Blackhawks, so it’s safe to assume he has or will do the same with Toews. It shouldn’t take a first-round pick to land Toews, but the Oilers do have all but their fourth-rounder in the upcoming draft.

Dallas Stars

The Stars are a long shot because they, one, aren’t Cup…