One contender takes step further in adding Jonathan Toews to its roster!

Everyone’s been keeping a close eye on Jonathan Toews, who has shared updates on his recovery via his Instagram account, posting pictures of his trip to India where he underwent “an Ayurvedic detox called a Panchakarma.” In an interview with GQ earlier this season, Toews also said that his NHL career might not be over yet, which got a lot of teams interested in the possibility of signing him prior to the March 7 deadline.

As he keeps recovering, Toews remained a free agent and could eventually make a return to the NHL and it’s been reported that teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets are considered top landing spot for the veteran forward.

And the Jets have taken a step further in making it known to everyone and anyone out there that they want to add Toews to their roster. On Wednesday, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff admitted that he is intrigued by the idea of adding Toews to the club if he can indeed make a comeback to the game.

“Certainly if he’s progressing to that point in time, it would be a real welcome conversation to see if there’s a fit both ways,” Cheveldayoff told Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press. “I think it would be a great story for his career, too. Not that he needs another story to his career. But I think he’s proud of his roots and would be an interesting fit.”

It would almost be a fairytale for Toews, who is a Winnipeg native and has connections with Cheveldayoff dating back to their time with the Chicago Blackhawks.

In 2022-23, Toews played out the last of an eight-year, $84 million contract he signed with the Blackhawks in 2014 that carried an AAV of $10.5 million, after missing the 2020-21 bubble season while recovering from COVID-19 and chronic immune response syndrome. He was then informed by general manager Kyle Davidson prior to the team’s final game of the season that he would not be re-signed. In August of 2023, Toews announced that he was stepping away from hockey “to give myself the time and space to fully heal and enjoy life to the fullest once again.”

Toews would be a tremendous addition to any NHL roster with his Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015) he won with the Blackhawks. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009-10 and the Frank Selke Trophy in 2013. He has played his entire career with the Blackhawks after he was selected third overall by the club in the 2006 NHL Draft. He recorded a total of 372 goals and 511 assists over 1,067 games.

Toews, who has resumed skating and is back down to his playing weight, will need to be signed to an NHL contract before the trade deadline on March 7 if he is seeking a return this season.

Along with the Maple Leafs, Jets and Avalanche, the Hockey News also believe the New Jersey Devils might get in the mix. Some fans wonder if the Oilers could also get involved seeing that Toews’ former GM in Chicago, Stan Bowman, is now the general manager in Edmonton.

But if I were in Toews’ shoes, an offer from the Jets would be hard to pass up.