NHL insider claims Toronto Maple Leafs will be invested in sweepstakes for Jonathan Toews should 3x Stanley Cup champ make a return

The NHL community is discussing former Chicago Blackhawks star Jonathan Toews’ possible return to the league. He was diagnosed with chronic inflammatory response disorder and COVID in recent years. These conditions caused him to miss the 2020-21 season and step away after the 2022-23 season. Toews has just completed a healing journey in India, which helped him regain his strength and health.

On Thursday, insider Frank Seravalli shared on the "NHL Coast to Coast" broadcast on Prime Canada that Toews has started skating again. He feels better and is back to his playing weight. Teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, are now interested in him.

"It's been almost two calendar years since we've seen Jonathan Toews on the ice, but I can tell you that there's no shortage of teams whose interest was peaked over the holidays when Toews detailed his five-week healing journey in India," Seravalli said.

So he's feeling the best that he has in years, and hinted in that story that he might want to resume his NHL career. Well, I can tell you that at this point, Jonathan Toews has indeed resumed skating. He's feeling the best that he has in years, and he's also back down to his playing weight."

Toews’ agent, Pat Brisson, has contacted several teams about a potential return.

"I'm told that multiple teams expressed interest in Toews a potential return to his agent and Pat Brisson on from CAA sports," Seravalli said.

They're not entirely sure yet as to whether or not Toews might try and resume playing this year, in which case you'd have to be on a teams reserve list by the trade deadline on March 7, or if this is something that will wait until next year."

Seravalli named three teams that have shown interest in acquiring Toews if he returns to the NHL.

"I'm going to give you three teams to keep an eye on if Jonathan Toews does decide to make a comeback bid," Seravalli said. "One of them is the Toronto Maple Leafs, a third line Center has been on Brad Treliving's Wish List all season long.

The other would be the Winnipeg Jets, the hometown team for Jonathan Toews. And the third would be the Colorado Avalanche in desperate need of another center, three true, legitimate Stanley Cup contenders."

Toews’ career with the Chicago Blackhawks is legendary. He was drafted third overall in 2006 and became the team captain in 2008. He helped the Blackhawks win three Stanley Cups and earned two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada.

Jonathan Toews hinted at his potential return to the League

Despite his success, health challenges have kept him off the ice. However, In GQ's Sunday interview, Towes said:

"There’s a part of me that really doesn't feel like my career is over yet, and who knows what this next part of the journey looks like, as far as getting back on the ice and trying to make a return to the NHL ... So we’ll see what happens."

If Toews returns, he must join a team’s reserve list by the Mar. 7 trade deadline. It’s unclear if he will play this season or wait until next year.