According to Pierre LeBrun, former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews reached out to his agent, Pat Brisson, and told him he was 100% committed to playing next season. Could the veteran be an interesting option for the Montreal Canadiens?

The 37-year-old last played in the NHL in April 2023, the Hawks elected not to offer him a contract extension after he was limited to playing just 53 games in the regular season. In that last season, he managed only 31 points. The year before that, he had 37 points in 71 games, a massive decline after he scored 60 points in 70 games in the 2019-20 season.

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Admittedly, he was slowed down by the effect of long-term Covid and chronic inflammatory response syndrome, but given his age, he was due to slow down eventually. After spending time in India and finding a cure for his condition, the three-time Stanley Cup champion is eager to return to the ice.

Towes skated for 15 seasons with the Hawks, playing 1,067 games and scoring 883 points. A natural-born leader, he captained the Chicago outfit for 14 of those campaigns and won the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2015. When the Hawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010, he was named the playoffs MVP and received the Conn Smythe Trophy. There’s also a Fran J. Selke Trophy on his mantelpiece, an award he won during the 2012-13 campaign.

There’s no denying that Toews is a little long in the tooth at 37, but this wouldn’t be like the Toronto Maple Leafs bringing on Joe Thornton or Patrick Marleau. Toews is a proven winner, and he possesses ample leadership qualities. Furthermore, he can also speak French, which is not a requirement, but it does matter in the Montreal market.

At his age and with the decrease in production, he wouldn’t be the solution for the Canadiens’ second center woes, but his presence could be a plus. It is, at the very least, an interesting option to think about for Kent Hughes and co.

Photo credit:  David Banks-Imagn Images

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