There is no shortage of rumours surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs and the latest one comes from Frank Seravalli. about Jonathan Toews.
In a recent appearance on Sport on Prime Canada, Seravalli discussed the possible return of former Chicago Blackhawks’ captain Jonathan Toews to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toews has been out of the game since 2023 after playing in 53 games for the Blackhawks.
Toews seems to have gotten better from the illness he’s battled to the point where he could play again in the NHL.
While that’s great news for the 36-year-old, here’s where things get a bit dicey. Toews hasn’t played in nearly two full calendar years and has been on the decline since missing the entire 2020-21 season. Toews returned in 2021-22 to play in 71 games, registering 37 points, and then notched 31 points in 53 games in 2022-23. (stats naturalstattrick.com).
What to Make of the Latest Toronto Maple Leafs Rumour?
Based on those numbers, there’s no telling what Toews can offer teams at this point. Nevertheless, that didn’t stop Seravalli from naming the Toronto Maple Leafs as one of the teams that could be interested in signing Toews.
Everyone knows the Leafs are extremely thin at centre, so you have to figure they'd at leats explore the viability of adding Toews.
In my opinion, however, Toews is not the answer to the Leafs' needs at the 3C position. The Leafs would be kidding themselves to think that a player who hasn't played in two years is the answer to their needs.
Especially when it would be a mid-season add. Players who miss training camp often have trouble catching up to NHL game speed for a long time after they return, so a player who hasn't played for two years and who isn't exactly young, isn't likely to come back to the league mid-season and be effective. Especially not on a Stanley Cup Contending team.
Then there is the baggage, and Toews comes with a lot of it, so the Leafs might just not want to bother. If we were having this conversation 10 years ago, I would be excited. But we’re not, so let’s just chalk this one up a another wild Toronto Maple Leafs rumour that's never going to happen.
The Leafs need to set their sights higher and go after a player who is still a star, regardless of what position they play.