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A surprising new team has entered the Jonathan Toews free agency sweepstakes
Photo credit: Sportsnet
A surprising new team has entered the Jonathan Toews sweepstakes, not long after the former Blackhawks captain announced that he wants to come back to the NHL.
Former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews announced through his agent Pat Brisson that he fully intends on coming back to the NHL after a 2-year absence.
He hasn't played since April of 2023 and has been hampered by symptoms of Long COVID along with a 2021 diagnosis of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).
During his most recent "32 Thoughts" podcast, NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman speculated that while the Colorado Avalanche and Toews' hometown Winnipeg Jets are expected to show interest in him, another surprising team could jump into the fold to try and land Toews - the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Jonathan Toews, sounds like it's a couple of teams here. I think Winnipeg is in there. Think Colorado's in there... One of the other teams I suspect on Toews - Lightning.
Toews helped the Blackhawks defeat the Lightning in the 2015 SCF in 6 games, claiming Chicago's 3rd Stanley Cup since 2010; it also remains their most recent Stanley Cup win to date.
Toews recently said that he's not satisfied with how things ended for him in Chicago after he was informed shortly before the end of 2022-23 that the Blackhawks would not be offering him a new contract.
I'm not satisfied the way things ended in Chicago. It's not about proving anything. It's just that there's something left in the tank and I want to explore that. I want to go have fun, have a blast, play with passion. But at the same time, I still have some high-level hockey left.
I want to be able to step away from the game having said that I've given it my all. And I still think there's something left to give.
I want to be able to step away from the game having said that I've given it my all. And I still think there's something left to give.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
JUIN 14 | 331 ANSWERS A surprising new team has entered the Jonathan Toews free agency sweepstakes Where will Jonathan Toews play next season? | ||
| Winnipeg | 209 | 63.1 % |
| Tampa Bay | 57 | 17.2 % |
| Detroit | 65 | 19.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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