A couple of days ago, veteran center Jonathan Toews reportedly agreed to a bonus-laden contract with the Winnipeg Jets. After a two-year absence from the sport, Toews is returning to the NHL with the defending President’s Trophy winners. The 37-year-old had drawn interest from several teams in the league and, according to insider Elliotte Friedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning were one of them. So, what does their interest in Captain Serious say about the team’s plans this season?
First off, we don’t know how close the Lightning were to signing the former captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, but Friedman described them, as well as Colorado, as having “more serious conversations” with Toews. The reported contract that he is going to sign, which is a $2 million base salary that includes game-played bonuses starting with 20 regular season games, is right up Julien BriseBois’ alley. It would have allowed him to sign Toews for a low AAV, and any bonuses earned could be pushed to next season’s salary cap, giving him flexibility to pursue other options.
Where would he have slotted in with the Lightning had they pulled off this signing (which is expected to be announced on July 1st)? With Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Nick Paul, and Yanni Gourde already on the roster, finding a spot for a player, no matter what his reputation is, that is over 35 and two years removed from competitive action seems like a bit of a stretch. It would be a big assumption, even if has returned to full health, that he could be relied on to be the 60-point forward he was during his prime.
The Lightning’s need, especially if Luke Glendening moves on, would be more geared to the bottom-six than the top-six role Toews has played over his career. Would he have been willing to accept that role with Tampa Bay, or would his signing have pushed someone like Gourde down to the fourth line or out to the wing? On the surface, it didn’t seem to be a great fit for the Bolts.
That being said, the fact that the Lightning were engaged in discussions with the free agent show that Mr. BriseBois is looking for help up front. Depth centers have been slowly disappearing from the free agent ranks as the likes of Matt Duchene and Ryan Donato have opted to stay with their current teams. Even assuming Jonathan Tavares and Mikhail Granlund are out of their price range, there are still some options for the Lightning GM to consider.
Veterans like Pius Suter, Lars Eller, or Trevor Lewis should be signing deals within the Lightning’s cap allowance. With Brayden Point locked in on the top line, and Anthony Cirelli producing like a second-line center offensively last season, the spots down the middle of the ice on the bottom two lines are still up for grabs. While it looks like Gourde was re-signed to center the third line, he has experience and the ability to play on the wing (the trio of Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, and a healthy Gourde would be a match-up nightmare for opponents).
It’s not likely that the Lightning are going to make a Jake Guentzel-esque splash this summer [Ed. Note – this is not me trying to reverse jinx one into happening…JG]. Expect them to round out their forward depth with a veteran forward, and possibly a sixth-or-seventh defender to compete with Max Crozier for a spot on the roster. It’s not exciting, but as the Florida Panthers have shown, adding the right veteran role players can go a long way to success in the NHL.
Jonathan Toews embarks on a $7M journey with Winnipeg Jets despite 2-year NHL absence
A New Chapter for Jonathan Toews with the Winnipeg Jets
In a move that has sparked excitement and curiosity across the NHL landscape, Jonathan Toews is set to make his much-anticipated return to professional hockey with the Winnipeg Jets. After a two-year hiatus from the game, Toews, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and former captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, has signed a one-year contract worth $2 million. Yet, the financial details reveal a deeper narrative—one filled with incentives that could see Toews earning up to $7 million this season.
