Jonathan Toews impels trade rumours to resurface

The Chicago Blackhawks have lost four games in a row ahead of Wednesday action and stand seventh in the Western division with 15 points in 18 games. However, star player Jonathan Toews has been the team’s top goal-scorer with eight tallies, which is making him more and more desirable on the trade market.

Toews is the second highest rated trade target on Frank Seravalli’s latest board as the insider points out that the Blackhawks’ captain “is garnering more interest of late due to his strong two way play, his face-off dominance, and his off-ice leadership. Any contending team would surely be interested in the three-time cup winning center.”

The process might be heating up now seeing that Toews has upgraded his play, potentially to get the attention of contenders out there to be moved ahead of the trade deadline and get another chance at a Stanley Cup before he hangs up the skates.

This is how Seravalli puts it:

“Like Kane, Toews will determine his future with an identical contract and clauses. They also share the same agent in CAA Sports’ Pat Brisson, who will be working very closely with Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson as the process heats up. The difference is Kane has always been a sought after commodity, a player who makes teams drool. Toews used to be there – as a stingy, difficult to play against center and unshakeable leader. He’s gotten back closer to the level that we last saw from him in 2019-20 before the pandemic. And that has everyone excited, including the Blackhawks.”

The renaissance of Toews has been fun to watch, but also intriguing on what it will cause on the trade market.

While interested teams will have to work about Toews’ $10.5 million AAV and no-mouvement clause, there is a sense that the Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche could pitch for Toews closer to the March deadline. The Blackhawks could be asked for another asset to make the money issue go away and absorb part of the captain’s salary.

Trade chatter is heating up - just like Toews on the ice!