A Bold Jets Plan Emerging Around Jonathan Toews’ Future?

Jonathan Toews returning to Winnipeg just seemed natural. He didn’t go after the big-market shine or the smoothest landing spot. He picked the city that shaped him — the rinks he grew up in, the stands he sat in, and a connection that’s bigger than hockey.

From everything people around the team say, he really likes being home again. Even when the Jets have been up and down, he’s carried himself the same way he always has — cool-headed and veteran-solid.

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After the Olympic Break Is Over, Toews Could Be Moved

After the Olympic break, the Jets might be staring down a rough stretch. And with Toews only signed for one year, he’s in a different kind of spot. There’s no long-term deal, no rebuild he’s locked into — just a short-term setup with options.

At the same time, there’s a sense that he’s not done playing hockey. Everyone around him seems to agree he wants more than this single season. That opens the door to an interesting possibility. It’s a choice that could actually help the Jets twice.

What If Toews Let the Jets Move Him at the Trade Deadline?

Toews could let the Jets move him at the deadline, but that wouldn’t mean he’s done with Winnipeg. It might actually be the smartest way to help the team he came home for. If a contender like Colorado or Tampa Bay circles back to him (both had interest before he signed in Winnipeg), he could be the classic rental. He goes for a playoff run, and in return, the Jets get something they normally wouldn’t: a pick, a prospect, or some kind of piece for the future.

After the season, nothing stops him from turning around and re-signing with Winnipeg again. No backroom promises — that’s not allowed. But players have pulled off this exact move. They get traded, play out the season somewhere else, and then head right back to the place they wanted to be all along. It’s not everyday stuff, but it’s totally within the rules. And it fits Toews’ path pretty well.

Toews Hasn’t Weighed in on the Possibility, but Why Not?

Toews isn’t talking about any of this. He’s just doing his job, game by game. Still, people who know him know he hates losing, misses the Cup chase, and wants to keep playing past this year. So if the right opportunity pops up — a playoff push that also gives the Jets something back, it’s hard to believe he wouldn’t at least give it some thought.

Sometimes helping your hometown team doesn’t look like staying put. Sometimes it looks like stepping away for a couple of months — and then coming right back.

Related: One Big Comeback: What Toews Means for Winnipeg Now