Does Jonathan Toews have anything left in the tank? (John Woods/CP)
This week, we learned that Anthony Duclair and Patrick Roy have moved past their differences; former goalie Ed Giacomin – a key figure for the Rangers in the ’60s and ’70s – died at age 86; and Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love is on a team-imposed leave as the NHL investigates his conduct during interviews this summer.
Can Jonathan Toews Fix the Jets?
The Winnipeg Jets are coming off a huge season in which they led the NHL and set a new franchise record with 116 points. In fact, going back two seasons, Winnipeg has accumulated the most points in the entire NHL.
However, the team has been unable to get past the second round since this current incarnation of the Jets, which moved from Atlanta in 2011-12. The other major issue? The club struggles to attract top free agents to the city, so has a tough time improving itself other than by trading, drafting smart and enjoying organic growth of its current roster.
Perhaps the most exciting addition Winnipeg made this offseason was signing native son Jonathan Toews, who hasn’t played since 2023 because of chronic inflammation and immune system problems, which ostensibly were related to Covid (which he contracted midway through the 2020-21 season). He’s apparently healthy now, thanks to some interesting healing techniques including induced vomiting.
Now 37, Toews posted a career-best 81 points in 2018-19 before dipping to 60, 37 and then 31 in his last active campaign in 2022-23. He did manage 15 goals that season, but that was greatly aided by a career-high shooting percentage.
Toews’ return to the NHL is a wonderful feel-good story and we’re definitely pulling for him, but from a Fantasy perspective, we’re steering clear. The Jets believe he can solve their second line woes and that his experience in winning three Stanley Cups will help bring them to the promised land.
We’re confident Toews’ leaderships skills — which were evident before he ever put on an NHL jersey — will play, but as for the rest of that? We’ll see…
When Will Luke Evangelista Sign?
Switching from one of last season’s top regular season teams, we’ll now talk about one of the worst – the Nashville Predators.
Two seasons ago, the Preds flirted with 100 points and earned a trip to the playoffs. Looking to take the team over the top, management opened the coffers and made several notable big-ticket free agent signings last summer (including stars Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei), designed to increase their odds of advancing in the playoffs.
However, the strategy flopped as the defense corps was a revolving door, so Nashville didn’t even manage 70 points and missed the postseason for the second time in three seasons.
Now the team seems gun shy to spend any money. Case in point is that promising young forward Luke Evangelista – the team’s only RFA this offseason — remains unsigned, with camp starting later this week. For what it’s worth, fans are unimpressed with this stalemate.
This is a kid we were bullish enough about to recommend when he first debuted late in the 2022-23 season, and he didn’t disappoint, recording 15 points in 24 games. The following campaign, Evangelista became a full-time NHL player and recorded 16 goals and 39 points, but slumped to just 10 goals and 32 points last season when he missed 14 games with a leg injury.
Nashville’s second rounder from 2020 is not being drafted in Fantasy leagues, but has potential to be a top 275 player. Note that down the stretch, Evangelista was shifted into a top six role and responded, with 4-9-13 over his last 14 games. If he has a top six gig again this season, he could be a steal off the wire, assuming the Preds finally come to terms with him.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
In 1975, David Bowie transitioned his sound into what he called “plastic soul,” a move that perturbed some fans but also brought him new ones, especially with his first major U.S. success with the No. 1 single “Fame.” Prior to that, he released his eighth album, Diamond Dogs, in 1974, which included “Sweet Thing (reprise),” one of the first examples of his exploration of Weimer soul music.