The Chicago Blackhawks are not going to be the team that signs Jonathan Toews if he does return to the National Hockey League. The leadership in Chicago has already made that clear with their actions over the last 36 months.
However, there is plenty of room for Toews in the NHL. His offensive upside may not be what it once was but being a reliable two-way centerman is absolutely in the cards. It would also be a bit surprising if he wasn’t good at faceoffs either.
Toews would likely sign with a contender but there is also going to be an opportunity for him to take a leadership role on a lower-end team in the standings. There are plenty of good options for him down that road as well.
In addition to the teams making sense for Toews, there are a few terrible destinations for the former Chicago Blackhawks captain. These are the three teams that Toews must avoid at all costs because the situation is terrible:
Nashville Predators – Not only would Toews look just plain wrong in a Nashville Predators sweater, but that’s a team to avoid if you’re an older player looking for one more kick at the can.
Over the summer, Nashville had the most fun off-season. They signed Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei in free agency. After making the playoffs last year, folks thought that these moves would turn them back into a legitimate threat.
This season, they have been nothing short of a disaster. Nashville is one of the best towns in the country but their hockey team needs a complete overhaul before they are good again. Toews must stay away.
Buffalo Sabres – There is no worse team to be right now than the Buffalo Sabres. A few teams might have fewer standings points but Buffalo came in with expectations to finally leap and they’ve gone backwards again.
Buffalo has the longest active playoff drought in the NHL. Because of how bad things have gotten there, it is a team that a guy like Toews should stay far away from.
Sure, playing with guys like Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, and Owen Power might be fun for him but there isn’t much winning going on. Toews wants to win.
Seattle Kraken – The Seattle Kraken organization is not in a good spot right now. Since shocking the world with a playoff win over the (at the time) defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in 2023, it’s all gone south.
Jonathan Toews would get good playing time with them but you know a competitor like him wants to win. They are a long way away from competing for the Stanley Cup and Toews…