New York Rangers Daily: Jets show interest in Jonathan Toews, seemingly a playoff club – Forever

The National Hockey League (NHL) is never short of drama, and the 2025 season has provided plenty of exciting stories to follow. Among the headlines swirling around the league, one of the most intriguing has been the reported interest from the Winnipeg Jets in acquiring Jonathan Toews, the legendary Chicago Blackhawks center. For the New York Rangers, this news is particularly interesting, as it touches on potential shifts in the NHL playoff picture — and perhaps even their own playoff aspirations. Toews, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, remains one of the most respected and accomplished players in the league, despite recent challenges with injuries and health.

This article takes a deep dive into why the Winnipeg Jets might be targeting Toews, how this could impact the Rangers, and the broader implications of Toews potentially joining a team on the playoff bubble.

Jonathan Toews: The Veteran Leader

Jonathan Toews has long been synonymous with winning and leadership in the NHL. The 35-year-old center has been the backbone of the Chicago Blackhawks’ championship teams, capturing the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013, and 2015. His leadership on and off the ice has earned him admiration from both teammates and opponents. Toews’ ability to perform in clutch situations and his leadership qualities have placed him in the conversation for the Hall of Fame when his career eventually comes to a close.

However, Toews’ career has been far from perfect in recent seasons. A battle with Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS) forced him to miss the entirety of the 2020-2021 season, and even when he returned in 2021-2022, he struggled to find the same form that had made him one of the most dominant two-way centers in the game. The combination of age and lingering injury concerns has cast doubt over Toews’ ability to be a difference-maker at the elite level that fans had come to expect.

Despite these challenges, Toews is still capable of being a strong contributor, especially in the right environment. He brings leadership, faceoff expertise, and a well-rounded game. For a playoff team, Toews could be the ideal player to add depth, experience, and a veteran presence.

Jets’ Interest in Toews: Why the Move Makes Sense

The Winnipeg Jets have shown interest in acquiring Jonathan Toews, and this pursuit makes sense for a few reasons. For a team like the Jets, who have been on the playoff bubble for a few seasons and are still vying for a postseason berth in the competitive Western Conference, Toews could be the kind of player who provides an immediate boost.

Veteran Leadership and Playoff Experience

One of the major reasons why the Jets are targeting Toews is his immense playoff experience. As of the 2024-2025 season, the Jets have a roster that includes a mixture of veteran players, such as Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and Connor Hellebuyck, and younger players, including promising stars like Kyle Connor and Cole Perfetti. While the Jets have had some success in recent years, they have struggled to make a deep playoff run, often falling short due to inconsistencies in their game.

Toews, with his extensive postseason resume, could provide invaluable leadership in the locker room and on the ice. His ability to perform under pressure, along with his knack for shutting down top opposing players and contributing to scoring opportunities, could be exactly what the Jets need to make a deep playoff run.

In addition, Toews’ presence could help with the development of younger players like Perfetti and Connor. He is a role model for how to maintain a high standard of play while balancing the pressures of being a leader. In many ways, Toews could be the type of player who elevates a team’s overall maturity and mental toughness, both of which are crucial for a playoff team.

Depth and Versatility

Another compelling reason for the Jets’ interest in Toews is his ability to provide depth to their forward lines. The Jets have a solid top-six group but have been lacking in forward depth at times, particularly when it comes to their third and fourth lines. Adding Toews to their lineup could give them the flexibility to move players around in order to create more balanced lines.

Toews can still contribute at both ends of the ice. He has always been known for his two-way play, excelling in both the offensive and defensive zones. If the Jets were to acquire Toews, they could slot him into a third-line center position, giving them an additional reliable option for faceoffs and a defensive presence. This versatility would allow the Jets to manage their lineup more effectively, giving them the ability to shut down opposing teams’ top players while also contributing to scoring efforts.

In addition, Toews could be a key player on special teams. He has a strong penalty-killing reputation, and his experience in high-pressure situations would make him an asset during power plays and short-handed situations. His addition could further strengthen the Jets’ already formidable special teams unit.

The Rangers’ Perspective: How Toews’ Move Affects Their Playoff Picture

For the New York Rangers, the news of the Jets’ interest in Toews brings both concern and opportunity. The Rangers are currently positioned as a strong contender in the Eastern Conference, but the landscape is always changing as other teams make moves to improve their playoff chances. The Rangers, as one of the league’s top teams, could see the Jets’ potential acquisition of Toews as both a challenge and a sign of how competitive the Western Conference is becoming.

A Possible Rival in the West

The Jets have the potential to be a serious playoff contender, and an acquisition like Toews would only further strengthen their chances. If the Jets were to make the playoffs and meet the Rangers in the Stanley Cup Final, the Rangers would be facing a well-balanced team with leadership, depth, and a veteran presence in Toews. Given the Rangers’ own aspirations for a Cup run, the addition of Toews in Winnipeg would represent a growing threat to their championship hopes.

Although the Rangers are in the East, it’s always important to keep an eye on how teams in the West are shaping up, especially when it comes to a potential Stanley Cup Final matchup. The Jets are not a team that can be taken lightly, and Toews could tip the balance in their favor, especially with his ability to perform in the clutch.

Potential Trade Targets for the Rangers

As the Rangers continue to position themselves for a deep playoff run, the news of the Jets’ interest in Toews could lead the Rangers to consider bolstering their own roster through the trade market. If the Jets acquire Toews, it could drive up the price of other rental players on the market, and the Rangers may need to act quickly to strengthen areas of need.

The Rangers have been linked to various trade rumors, particularly in areas like defensive depth and secondary scoring. With a core that includes stars like Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Adam Fox, the Rangers are in a strong position to make a run for the Cup, but they need to ensure they don’t fall short in terms of roster depth. If the Jets improve their depth with Toews, the Rangers may be forced to make a similar move to maintain their competitive edge.

Additionally, if Toews is traded to the Jets, it could shift the balance of power in the NHL’s Central Division, possibly influencing the Rangers’ playoff seeding. A well-balanced Jets team could make a run deep into the playoffs, and if they finish with a higher seed, the Rangers could face a more difficult road to the Cup. In this sense, the Jets’ move could indirectly affect how the Rangers approach their own strategy down the stretch of the regular season.

The Bigger Picture: NHL Playoff Contenders

The NHL playoff picture is always fluid, especially as teams make moves to solidify their positions for a deep postseason run. With Jonathan Toews potentially leaving the Chicago Blackhawks, teams like the Winnipeg Jets see a rare opportunity to add a proven winner who can still contribute in important ways. For the Jets, acquiring a player like Toews would not only help them this season but could also help develop their younger players and establish a winning culture.

Meanwhile, for the New York Rangers, the Jets’ interest in Toews is a reminder of the increasing level of competition in both conferences. As the Rangers position themselves for a deep playoff push, they will be keeping a close eye on their Western Conference competitors, especially if those competitors are adding key players like Toews. The Rangers have the talent and leadership to make their own push for the Cup, but they must continue to focus on improving their lineup and positioning themselves for a successful playoff run.

As the season progresses and the trade deadline approaches, more teams will look to improve their rosters, and the landscape of the NHL playoff race will evolve. The Jets’ pursuit of Toews is just one example of the arms race that often occurs as teams gear up for postseason contention. The Rangers must continue to monitor these developments closely and consider how moves like the one being made by Winnipeg could impact their path to a Stanley Cup championship.