NHL Rumors: Colorado Avalanche Remain Interested in Veteran

The Chicago Blackhawks are in a complete rebuild, and they are, as expected, at the bottom of the NHL standings. They also have several pending unrestricted free agents who we could see moved, and that includes captain and franchise legend Jonathan Toews. The veteran center has been viewed as a trade target for the Colorado Avalanche since the very beginning of the season, and now more fuel is being added to that fire. The Fourth Period has confirmed that the Avalanche are in fact interested in Toews.

There’s no question that the Avalanche should be looking to add a center at the deadline. After all, they lost Nazem Kadri through free agency this past offseason, and they failed to find a second-line center replacement for him. While Toews is playing at his best, he certainly is good enough to fill that significant role, so he could make sense for the Avalanche. Yet, even if he was utilized on their third line, that would still be fantastic for Colorado, as it would give them a three-time Stanley Cup champion and strong two-way center.

Although one may argue that Toews is no longer an elite player, he is still a quality middle-six center who has won several times, so that makes him a very appealing trade target around the league. For the Avalanche to acquire him, they will need Chicago to retain half his salary and a third team to help as well. We’ll have to wait and see if the Avalanche and Blackhawks end up striking a big deal centering around Toews from here.