On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews has expressed his desire to return to the NHL, and he could land with a billion-dollar Canadian franchise - and it's not the Maple Leafs.
Former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews officially indicated late last month through his agent Pat Brisson that he fully intends on returning to the NHL.
He hasn't played since April 2023 and has been a free agent; he's also suffered from symptoms of Long COVID as well as a 2021 diagnosis of chronic immune response syndrome (CIRS) that caused him to miss the whole 2020-21 season.
Where will Toews play if he can sign an NHL contract? Right now, it looks more and more like he could land with his hometown Winnipeg Jets, who could use his championship experience and utilize him in the bottom-6, try and build off their 1st President's Trophy-winning season.
Adam Proteau of The Hockey News recently wrote that playing for his hometown team, combined with their top-end talent,could give Toews the best chance to win 1 more Stanley Cup before he officially retires.
Winnipeg's excellent depth also means Toews could come in and serve as the Jets' third-or-fourth-line center, and the ensuing lack of pressure to play big minutes right away and start putting up major points may also be a determinant in his decision on where to resume playing. And the chance to play perhaps one final season with a team that has a solid shot at winning a Stanley Cup for the three-time Cup-winner might be its best selling point for him.
Per FanDuel Sportsbook, the Jets lead the odds to land Toews at +210, followed by the Maple Leafs and the Colorado Avalanche.
Winnipeg Jets +210
Toronto Maple Leafs +300
Colorado Avalanche +470
Vegas Golden Knights +650
Edmonton Oilers +1100
Tampa Bay Lightning +1500
Detroit Red Wings +1900
Anaheim Ducks +2200
New York Rangers +3400
Dallas Stars +4500
Los Angeles Kings +4500
Washington Capitals +4500
Minnesota Wild +4500
Florida Panthers +4500
New York Islanders +5000
Calgary Flames +5000
New Jersey Devils +5000
Chicago Blackhawks +5500
Carolina Hurricanes +5500
Boston Bruins +6000
More must-reads:
- NHL coaches who have the best chance of success with their new teams
- Is a Connor Bedard breakout coming in 2025-26?
- The '250-strikeout MLB seasons' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
NHL coaches who have the best chance of success with their new teams
With the Dallas Stars finalizing a deal with Glen Gulutzan on July 1 to become their new head coach, all 32 teams have their man behind the bench for the 2025-26 season. Overall, nine teams hired new head coaches, but these four have the best chance of success this season: Adam Foote, Vancouver Canucks In his first NHL head-coaching job, Foote — who played in the league for 20 seasons — gets a team that endured plenty of disfunction last season. The good news for Foote is that his roster includes former Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes, former Vezina finalist Thatcher Demko and No. 1 center Elias Pettersson. Vancouver also re-signed winger Brock Boeser to a long-term deal. However, their center depth may be lacking a bit after its trade of J.T. Miller and the injury histories of Demko and Boeser. Vancouver will face an uphill climb in a tough Pacific Division that includes powers Edmonton, Vegas and Los Angeles. Foote must get the best out of his stars to get Vancouver back into the postseason. The Canucks have made the postseason only twice over the past 10 seasons. Rick Tocchet, Philadelphia Flyers The former Jack Adams Award winner (NHL Coach of Year) was fired by the Vancouver Canucks after a disappointing season and subsequently scooped up by the Flyers, who had fired John Tortorella. Tocchet brings a similar gritty, heavy forechecking approach as Tortorella that seems to fit for the Flyers. Philadelphia features solid, young talent, including budding superstar forward Matvei Michkov and newly acquired winger Trevor Zegras. The Flyers’ biggest issue is goaltending. Philadelphia finished last in team save percentage last season. Tocchet must get better play in the net. Mike Sullivan, New York Rangers The two-time Stanley Cup champion parted with the Pittsburgh Penguins after a third straight season out of the playoffs. New York, the 2024 President’s Trophy-winning team, faltered last season, missing the playoffs after three straight seasons in the postseason. New York traded young defenseman K’Andre Miller, 25, but it signed the top defensive free agent, Vladislav Gavrikov, who should form an elite pairing with former Norris winner Adam Fox. The Rangers also have center J.T. Miller (acquired last January) for a full season and former Vezina winner Igor Shesterkin in net. The Rangers have plenty of talent to compete in a wide-open Metropolitan Division, so Sullivan has a great chance at getting New York back into the playoffs. Glen Gulutzan, Dallas Stars Gulutzan, who coached Dallas from 2011-13, has one of the NHL’s most talented rosters. The Stars re-signed Matt Duchene and Jamie Benn for their forward group, which also includes stars Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson. It may be the best unit in the league. Dallas' defensive core features a star (Miro Heiskanen) and breakout youngster (23-year-old Thomas Harley). They’re backstopped in net by Jake Oettinger, who could start for Team USA at the 2026 Olympics. With all this talent, Gulutzan has the best chance of success of any new NHL coach.
Aaron Boone Makes Feelings on Marcus Stroman Clear After Release From Yankees
The New York Yankees revamped their bullpen on Thursday, acquiring relievers Camilo Doval, David Bednar, and Jake Bird ahead of the 6 p.m. Trade Deadline. However, that spelled the end of Marcus Stroman's tenure with the team. With fellow pitchers Luis Gil (lat), Fernando Cruz (oblique), Mark Leiter Jr. (fibula), and Ryan Yarbrough (oblique) all on their way to returning, New York needed to clear a roster spot. The club cut Stroman on Friday, who has a 6.23 ERA over nine appearances this season. Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave his thoughts about Stroman before the team's bout with the Miami Marlins, via MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. "The [public] perception around Stro, for us, did not meet the guy we got to be around for the last couple years," he said. "He's an awesome competitor. ... I feel like he's a guy I'll stay in touch with for the rest of our lives." Stroman signed a two-year deal with the Yankees in January 2024 after spending two seasons with the Chicago Cubs. The right-hander was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 30 appearances last season. The Toronto Blue Jays selected Stroman No. 22 overall in the 2012 MLB Draft. The former Duke Blue Devil stayed with Toronto until 2019, when it dealt him to the New York Mets at the Trade Deadline. He then signed a two-year deal with the Cubs in December 2021. Stroman is a two-time All-Star and was the 2017 World Baseball Classic MVP.
Brewers Tried Bringing All-Star Slugger To Milwaukee: Report
The Milwaukee Brewers may not have added a big bat ahead of the 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline, but it sounds like it wasn't from a lack of trying, at the very least. As the trade deadline approached, rumors swirled about various sluggers. The two that popped up the most when it came to the Brewers were Ryan O'Hearn, formerly of the Baltimore Orioles. Former Arizona Diamondbacks star Eugenio Suárez also was mentioned. Suárez was traded to the Seattle Mariners and O'Hearn was dealt to the San Diego Padres. Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on Friday that the Brewers at least showed interest in O'Hearn on Friday, although they were unable to get a deal done. "Brewers were involved on O’Hearn today, sources said. But that counts for little, leaving them still without any additions other than Danny Jansen with 90 minutes to go," Hogg reported on Friday. O'Hearn would've been a solid pickup because of the fact that he has launched 13 homers and has driven in 43 runs this season. While this is the case, Milwaukee missed out. Positionally, there would've been some question marks, but that doesn't matter any longer. Now, the deadline is behind us and there's no need to think about or worry about what could'be been. This is a contender as is. It would've been nice to land someone like O'Hearn, but Milwaukee still has a 64-44 despite the offensive questions.
Steelers Spark Crazy Trade Rumors After Cowboys' Micah Parsons' Prior Comments Resurface
Khan has openly said he will never pass up the chance to explore opportunities that could improve the team. On Friday, news broke that Parsons requested a trade out of Dallas. While the possibility of landing Parsons remains a long shot, this request provides Khan with a rare window to investigate whether there’s a way to bring one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers to Pittsburgh. Earlier in February 2025, Parsons spoke with former Steelers cornerback turned analyst Bryant McFadden about the Steelers. During the conversation, McFadden joked that the Steelers logo would look good on Parsons. Parsons responded playfully, saying he would love to play for Mike Tomlin, adding fuel to the speculation that a move to Pittsburgh might not be completely out of the question. "Nah, I rock with the Steelers," Parsons said. "I said if I ever return home it was going to be Pittsburgh. I mess with Mike Tomlin the long way." It’s no secret that Tomlin is one of the most popular head coaches in the NFL. Many players have expressed a strong desire to play for him, and that reputation has sometimes helped the Steelers attract top talent. A prime example of this is when the Steelers convinced four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers to join the team, a move that energized the fanbase and boosted expectations. The idea of Parsons lining up alongside TJ Watt and the rest of Pittsburgh’s elite defense is both thrilling and intimidating. While it remains a very far-fetched possibility, Parsons’ recent comments about wanting to play for the Steelers have sparked excitement among fans. These remarks, made in 2025, add fuel to the speculation that a trade could be in the cards, even if the odds are slim. Parsons, who grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, shared a message on social media Friday explaining what really led to his trade request. If Parsons has any influence over his next destination, and if Khan can work his magic, the Steelers might just have a slim but real chance to pull off a trade. Landing Parsons would instantly make Pittsburgh’s defense one of the most fearsome in NFL history, though it remains an ambitious long shot. Steelers Chances Of Trading For Micah Parsons Are Low While the thought of Parsons playing in the black and gold for the 2025 season is certainly exciting, the logistics would be very complex, though not impossible. Parsons is clearly unhappy with the Cowboys, and Jerry Jones has not helped their chances of keeping him satisfied. He officially wants out, and now is the time for Khan to see if there’s any logical way to pull off a crazy trade.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
