Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Jonathan Toews Linked to Surprising Atlantic Team By Elliotte Friedman

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 1:05 PM ET

Jonathan Toews' NHL return is almost upon us, and according to Elliotte Friedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning may be a fit for the former Blackhawks captain.

After two years away from the NHL, former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is set to make his return, and according to all reports, he's likely to make his free agency decision before the 2025 NHL Draft.

Recent reports have revealed that he's interested in a select few teams, and while we've heard the Manitoba native linked to the Winnipeg Jets and the Colorado Avalanche, not much has been said about his free agency market beyond that.

Now, Elliotte Friedman has dropped a bombshell, as he has officially linked the 37-year old veteran to the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that has fallen out of the playoffs in the first round for the past three years, with the potential that a former three-time Stanley Cup winner can help them get things back on track.

'Jonathan Toews, sounds like it's a couple of teams here, think Winnipeg's in there, think Colorado's in there...One of the other teams I suspect on Toews: Lightning.'

With a star studded forward group that includes Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel, this is a team in serious need of a 2C, and while they may not be his first choice, it's hard to ignore what a good fit Toews would be for the Lightning.

Given the reported timeline for a Toews decision, it doesn't appear that we'll have to wait long to learn his next NHL team, and while the Lightning definitely aren't the favourite, if Friedman is reporting it, don't be surprised to see the chatter pick up in the coming days.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: