The Edmonton Oilers are looking to make a deep playoff run this season, and after coming up short in their previous two appearances, where they made it to the Stanley Cup Final, they are hoping their depth can step up and help them win their first Stanley Cup since 1990. One thing that fans seem to agree on is that the Oilers would benefit from adding a depth forward who can play the role of a third-line centre. One name that has come up recently as a potential trade target is Winnipeg Jets’ Jonathan Toews.
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Toews, who is 37 years old, returned to the NHL this season after not playing since the 2022-23 campaign. This season with the Jets, he has scored seven goals and added 12 assists for 19 points through 51 games. Starting the season, Toews struggled defensively and seemed to be more of a liability, but he has turned it around as the season moves forward. With the Jets struggling and potentially selling, they may consider moving him at the trade deadline.
Toews has a full no-movement clause in his contract that has a $2 million cap hit. The Oilers would easily be able to fit his contract into their roster if he were willing to waive his trade protection to make a push for a Stanley Cup. Keep in mind, this is just a hypothetical idea and is just a mock trade. There have been rumours connecting the Oilers to Toews, but nothing seems to be imminent on that front, nor does it seem like either team will be making a big move like this before the Olympic break.
Oilers Land Toews, Jets Add Draft Capital
While the Oilers likely wouldn’t have an issue fitting Toews into their lineup, they would have to trade Andrew Mangiapane and Adam Henrique to be able to fit in his entire salary. Mangiapane will have interest from around the league when he eventually agrees to waive his trade protection, while Henrique would have to be willing to waive his trade protection to be moved. If those things happen, and Toews is willing to waive his trade protection, a deal could be possible.
The first thing that came to mind was the Jets taking on Mangiapane and a draft pick in exchange for Toews. Mangiapane could be a guy that they see as a depth player heading into the 2026-27 season, and they could be willing to give him a fresh start. However, the more likely route that the two teams take is that the Jets will look to clear cap space and will prefer to take draft capital.
Realistically, the Oilers acquire Toews in exchange for their own 2028 third-round pick. The Oilers can afford to move that pick, considering they have the St. Louis Blues’ third-round pick in 2028 as well, while the Jets don’t lose Toews for nothing in free agency, while doing him a favour by sending him to a team in a playoff spot.
Some fans don’t believe adding Toews would provide much of a benefit, but adding someone who has had playoff success and is a stable bottom-six forward is exactly what the Oilers could need to win a championship. He is a cost-effective player who may elevate alongside stronger players, and he could be a perfect third-line centre heading toward the postseason.
We will see if the Jets try to trade Toews, or if he’s interested in a move at this point in his career, but if he is, the Oilers seem to be an ideal fit.
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