No Chance Jonathan Toews Is Leaving the Jets
Not long ago, I thought that Jonathan Toews might be entering the trade-deadline rumour mill. With his team struggling, the math for making the playoffs looks bad. The fact is, Toews got off to a slow start and hasn’t really been producing as much as he probably thought he would. Certainly, there are other teams out there that would reach out to assess his availability.
The thought of Toews leaving the Jets should be put to rest.
Here’s the answer straight from the man himself. It’s not going to happen. Not now, and not at the deadline. There will be no gentle shove because he’s staying put.
Toews spelled it out in a recent interview, and he didn’t bother dressing it up. “I wouldn’t consider going anywhere,” he said, plain as day. He’s got a full no-move clause and zero intention of waiving it. You can also hear the conviction in his voice. The Jets are having a rough year — we all see it. But he’s not abandoning ship. His words were basically: this season’s been weird, the bounces went sideways, but the group isn’t far off.
Even during the Jets’ winless streak, Toews never gave up belief.
He talked about that long winless streak they had, and you could tell it still bothers him. Not in a defeated way, but in that stubborn captain’s way. He rattled off all the near-misses, the late mistakes, the overtime heartbreakers. To him, that wasn’t proof they’re a bad team — it was proof they’re close. “We’re going to find a way to make them go right,” he said. That’s vintage Toews.
But there’s a wrinkle. He’s not signed for next season. One-year deal, lots of bonuses, a bit of a gamble on both sides. And yet he’s openly talking like a guy who wants to run it back. He said he’s grateful for the opportunity, he’s fought through the adjustment period, and he wants to keep playing for this team. That sounds a lot more like “see you in October” than “rent me for a playoff run.”
What does this mean for Winnipeg?
So what does this mean for the Jets? If they’re selling, it won’t be Toews. In fact, it could be everyone except Toews. They’ve got UFAs who might draw interest. They’ve got depth pieces that other teams sniff around every year. But the big veteran with the no-move clause? He’s not packing.
Sometimes, a player leaves the door cracked open just to keep people guessing. Toews slammed his shut. If anyone’s still trying to wedge his name into a rumour, they’re not listening.
He’s staying. End of story.