Oilers Could Use Jonathan Toews if He Comes Available

Edmonton Oilers called Chicago Blackhawks before free agency to ask if Patrick Kane was available. He is not ready to move at this time. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman was on the "Oilers Now" show and talked about the future of Kane and Jonathan Toews. If the Oilers want to make a splash and add a future Hall of Famer from the Blackhawks, Toews would be the better fit.

Patrick Kane is not what the Oilers need. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the main playmakers of the line. If the team were to make a trade for Kane, they should look for Jonathan Toews. The more defensively sound Toks would be cheaper to buy. The Oilers scored 65 goals in 16 games in the playoffs last season. They gave up 55 goals. Their goalkeeping is a problem. To save goals against, the club should buy a player like Jonathan toews at the trade deadline.

Jonathan Toews has won three Stanley Cups and was the second youngest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. He's also a two-time Olympic gold medalist and has also won gold at the World Cup of Hockey. Toks has scored 852 points in 1,014 games and won 59 percent of his draws last season.

Toews would be an ideal third-line center for the Edmonton Oilers. He's a 57 percent winner in the circle and has 119 points in 137 career playoff games. He could play on the wing with either McDavid or Draisaitl. His big body can retrieve pucks and get it on their sticks. If he's traded to Edmonton, he won't be the team's cornerstone.

The Oilers have under $200 in cap space heading into the 2022-23 season. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have a cap hit of $10.5 million each. Their contracts expire at the end of this season and they are both free agents. Edmonton could get Toks for a first-round draft pick and a B-level prospect.