Winnipeg Jets vs. Jonathan Toews: Time to pull the trigger?

When the news came that Jonathan Toews signed with the Winnipeg Jets, it felt like a fairytale moment. Hometown hero comes home, three-time Cup winner finally wears Jets blue. Winnipeg fans were ready to cheer and management was getting all the good vibes. You can’t blame anyone for getting excited.

But after a few months, the fairy tale hasn’t exactly ended up on ice.

Toews had a lot to overcome, even playing for the Jets

Toews is 38 and has been sidelined for a few years due to health problems. Since Christmas he has had a bit of a life change, but mostly he is struggling to find his feet. Seven goals, 12 assists, 19 points in 56 games, with a minus-17 rating. Those figures are not exactly front-page news. More often than not, he has been invisible or even a liability instead of the boost everyone was hoping for.

Related: A bold Jets plan emerging around Jonathan Toews’ future?

Even though it feels like a tough task, maybe now is the right time. So, what do the Jets do? Keep it close or move it? Let’s break it down.

Reasons to keep Toews and reasons to let him go

There are reasons why the Jets might keep him. There’s still that leadership angle. There’s a reason he’s a three-time Cup champion: Toews knows how to get it done. The younger players see that and it sticks with them. He can still get through tough games, and if he goes on a mini hot streak late in the season, it could give Winnipeg a boost they didn’t see coming.

There are also reasons why the Jets shouldn’t keep him. First, money talks. Toews isn’t cheap, and the bonus structure only makes it worse. He’s making $2 million for 19 points this season alone. That’s rough. The Jets aren’t exactly Cup favorites right now, so keeping him might be more sentimental than practical. Plus, keeping him in the lineup costs minutes that could go to younger players who could actually help shape the future.

Would any other team want Toews for the Playoffs?

By trading him you would be admitting that the experiment didn’t work. But if another team wants a veteran, physical presence, it can actually help anyone. It would give Winnipeg the freedom to give younger players more ice time and cap space. And for Toews? Maybe he’ll get a real chance at a final Cup elsewhere, rather than end a late career in a losing situation.

Ultimately, the Jets must ask themselves whether the feel-good story is worth the cost — in money, minutes and production. Right now, all signs point to this being a smart move.

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