The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to look quite different next season. Following GM Brad Treliving's message of the need to "change the DNA," reports emerged that three-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Toews is 100 percent ready to make an NHL comeback bid. While there's going to be no shortage of suitors for the former Chicago Blackhawks, should the Maple Leafs go after him? If so, at what cost?
Jonathan Toews’ Legacy of Leadership and Two-Way Play
There is no question about the pedigree an NHL team gets when signing Jonathan Toews. A 15-year career with the Chicago Blackhawks saw his two-way game and leadership qualities become a hallmark of the club’s championships, which forged a dynasty. In addition to scoring 372 goals and 511 assists in 1,067 NHL games, Toews routinely finished high when it came to face-off percentages, including an impressive 63.1 percent in his last active season (2022-23).
Health Concerns for Toews
Toews' performance and numbers began to decline in 2020, with him citing Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) due to the lingering effects of long-COVID. He missed the entire 2020-21 season to deal with this, before returning in 2021-22 where he scored 12 goals and 25 assists in 71 games. Dealing with the effects on his health, while the club was stripping its core and entering a rebuild, no doubt affected the star’s ability to replicate his past performance.
Toews Comeback Attempt
The 37-year-old Toews has made it clear he is 100 percent ready to move forward with a comeback after undergoing several treatments and therapies to push past those health concerns, including an "Ayurvedic Detox" in India, which he documented on social media.
Maple Leafs Need Improvement on Center Depth
The Maple Leafs entered the 2024-25 NHL season with Auston Matthews as their first-line center, followed by John Tavares on the second line. From there, the center ice positions were more fluid, with Max Domi mostly filling the third-line spot, while Scott Laughton and David Kampf rounded out the bottom-six center options. Other players have been able to swap into center (like Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok). However, we'll exclude them from this discussion as they primarily played on the wing down the stretch.
Tavares, a free agent on July 1, has expressed his desire to return to Toronto and it looks like management is happy to find something that could work, provided it’s at the right price. If the Leafs can lock up the former captain to a team-friendly deal, then Tavares remains a good option for Toronto at 2C who can move down to 3C should it become clear that the 34-year-old is seeing a decline in his play. Tavares had 38 goals and 36 assists in 75 games and is still a valuable asset for Toronto; however, his effectiveness as a bona fide 2C came into question during Toronto’s second-round loss to the Florida Panthers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tavares, however, was not alone in being scrutinized for his play in the series.
Maple Leafs' Need for Leadership and Defensive Help
The Maple Leafs have consistently tried to bring in veterans over the years to augment their core players but it has yet to yield positive results in the postseason. Under head coach Craig Berube, the Maple Leafs shifted their mentality to a new identity centered around grit, consistent defensive play, and a more disciplined style of play. Berube’s system, which prioritizes quick transitions and controlled play in the offensive zone, could see a player like Toews thrive. It’s hard to expect someone like Toews to replicate his offensive numbers after spending the last two full seasons away from the game. However, when it comes to the defensive aspects of his game, those should return with some reps rather quickly. The 2013 Selke Trophy-winning Toews could fit well within Berube’s identity. The Leafs' penalty kill underwent a transition, with Matthews getting more reps on the PK. Toronto finished with a middling 77.9 percent last season (17th out of 32 teams).
Maple Leafs Have Significant Opportunity and Cap Space for Toews
The Maple Leafs are in a win-now mode, which will be attractive to a player like Toews. Assuming Tavares returns, a player like Toews could move to the club’s third-line center position, and his defensive abilities would help Toronto in key matchups. In the event Toews shows more improvement and Tavares declines, the team could easily move him up to the second-line center spot if need be. Toews has a proven ability to lead by example, and there’s no doubt any interested team could benefit if he returns to form. Due to how long Toews has been out and his age, he is eligible for a performance-based contract that could help offset any salary cap hit. Although Toronto has significant cap space, they need to set some money aside for pending free agent forward Matthew Knies, in addition to a new Tavares contract and other players. The Leafs could also look to possibly utilize a professional tryout for Toews with the understanding that he would receive money through easily attainable games-played thresholds, not unlike what they did with veteran forward Max Pacioretty.
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