NHL rumblings: Who was in on Toews, plus latest on Marner, McDavid, Tavares, Robertson and more

The Winnipeg Jets were the front-runners for Jonathan Toews from the get-go.

His relationship with Jets chairman Mark Chipman was a big part of it, and Toews desire to play for his hometown team was a natural allure.

But that doesnt mean that his camp, led by agent Pat Brisson, didnt talk to other teams once it was announced May 29 that it was 100 percent Toews was coming back .

The Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs were among the 15 teams that spoke with Brisson about their interest in Toews.

Advertisement The Leafs are dying to find the keys to a deeper playoff path, and Toews would have been a wonderful addition from that perspective.

It was a no-brainer for general manager Brad Treliving to poke his nose in there, but the Leafs got the sense early it was Winnipeg or Colorado for Toews.

The young Habs could have used Toews Stanley Cup-winning experience, too, to be sure.

The Avs are trying to find their way back to another Stanley Cup, and adding Toews to that talented mix would have put him in a position where he didnt have to lead but could find a way to become impactful.

Colorado was seriously interested and had a chance to talk directly with Toews and felt it had a real good role for him there dont forget Charlie Coyle could have easily slid over to wing but ultimately was the runner-up.

The fit is similar in Winnipeg, where theres also a deep, talented roster.

Toews doesnt have to be Superman there.

When it comes to fitting into the lineup, this is more about where he will finish than where he will start, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff told The Athletic on Saturday.

His contributions will grow as he becomes more comfortable with his surroundings.

Every year, a team has to find out who they are and what each player brings to the collective group.

Thats why each season brings a new challenge and what drives each individual player.

In todays game, its not about jumping over the boards first, second or third.

Its about how you influence the people around you when you are out there.

JT could have chosen to just sit on the sidelines and watch time pass by, but he has chosen to embrace the new challenge of working with a group of guys to achieve something special.

If all goes well, and Toews rediscovers some of his old form after not playing for two and a half years, he could be the second-line center on a team that has one of the very best third-line centers in the league in Adam Lowry (when hes healthy again).

Advertisement But whats clear from Cheveldayoffs comment is that Toews will have a chance to find his form.

He wont be rushed into a role he might not be ready for.

Here are more rumblings from around the league as we head into draft week.

Stars listening on Robertson After making a number of calls around the league on it this past week, heres what I make of the Jason Robertson situation: The Stars arent actively shopping him but are listening on him to educate themselves on the market and what teams might be willing to do at some point.

Dallas correctly views his value as at its highest right now, given that hes still signed for another year at $7.75 million on the cap.

At the same time, the Stars are also trying to gauge Robertsons camp, CAA and Pat Brisson, to get a feel for what their ask would be on the next contract.

Robertson is set to be a restricted free agent on July 1, 2026.

He can be extended as early as this summer.

I do believe that if its a contract thats fair, Dallas will extend him and keep him.

But if the ask is perceived as too high without much wiggle room, it might get interesting as far as circling back to teams that have reached out.

I think the market interest is already pretty robust for Robertson, as it should be.

Either way, though, I dont see a quick resolution in the coming week or two.

I think this is a slow-play situation where hes either extended by the end of the summer or traded in August.

McDavid and the Oilers vision Connor McDavid spoke this week, and I think he was candid and clear: Hes looking for reasons to stay with the Edmonton Oilers but also needs to have the team share its vision of what the next few years look like.

Because winning is No.

1.

All of which is why hes in no hurry to sign an extension right away when hes eligible July 1.

How the Oilers front office handles the next few weeks will be important in communicating to No.

97 that theyre still going to be an elite contender.

Advertisement Its my job to connect with Connor in that way and demonstrate that thats what were all trying do do, Oilers GM Stan Bowman told Edmonton media members Friday.

We all have the same objective.

So, message received.

Leon Draisaitl didnt sign his extension until Sept.

3 last year, and people shouldnt freak out if McDavid still hasnt signed come training camp.

It doesnt mean it will drag out that long.

Perhaps something gets done swiftly by August, but the most important fact to remember is that there is no firm timeline his camp has declared as having to follow in this.

Echoing what colleague Chris Johnston wrote this past week , Im not in the camp of not believing McDavid will sign an eight-year max deal but rather a shorter one.

Whether thats two years or three or five or six, time will tell.

McDavids agent is Judd Moldaver, who did a four-year extension for superstar Auston Matthews with the Maple Leafs two years ago.

He isnt focused on eight-year max deals in all situations.

And McDavid is still only 28.

So a three-year deal, for instance, would put him back in an unrestricted-free-agent leverage position at 31, when hes still in his prime.

Of course, theres always the small chance McDavid doesnt think the Oilers are set up to remain a contender and doesnt extend.

I dont think thats the likeliest outcome, but its not 100 percent off the table.

Teams like the Los Angeles Kings, with former Oilers GM Ken Holland, are keeping a close eye.

If and when McDavid ever leaves, its a short list of markets that I believe would be a fit for him: L.A., the New York Rangers, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Dallas Stars, etc.

It would not be a free-for-all, with 25 teams getting a chance at it.

Marner options The rumor du jour and it is very much that, as Ive not confirmed it but have heard it now from two teams now is that one option Mitch Marner is considering is a two-year deal at around $12 million to $13 million per year, positioning him to hit the market again when the salary cap skyrockets to $113 million or higher in a couple of years.

Advertisement The risk is injury, of course, but at 28 now, he would be 30 when he is a UFA again if he went that route.

The Vegas Golden Knights, the Stars and the Kings are among the teams that I believe are high on Marners list.

The Stars would be a long-shot fit given their financial commitment to Mikko Rantanen, but never say never.

Bennetts declaration Sam Bennetts late-night declaration to fans at a bar Thursday was a clip that went viral.

(I love how the Panthers celebrate Stanley Cups, by the way.) Bennett also made it clear on the ice Tuesday night after winning it all that he considered his teammates brothers and couldnt imagine being anywhere else.

So we know Bennett wants to stay, and we know Panthers GM Bill Zito wants to make it happen.

But there is still work to do to find a sweet spot on a deal.

Somewhere between $7.5 million and just under $8 million on an eight-year deal seems like the spot, but will that be enough to get it done? Remember: Bennett was announcing his intention to stay late Thursday night, not an actual extension.

I find it hard to believe the sides wont get there before July 1, though.

Same as with Sam Reinhart a year ago.

Flames ready to listen on Andersson As colleague Frank Seravalli first reported, talks between the Calgary Flames and Rasmus Anderssons camp didnt go great recently regarding a possible extension that can be signed as early as July 1.

The Flames still have Andersson under contract for another year and are comfortable having him play for them next season, but at the same time, my understanding is that GM Craig Conroy is now ready to listen on trade offers for the veteran right-shot defenseman.

Whether thats a trade that happens this summer or waits until the deadline, both are on the table.

There will be no shortage of interest in Andersson.

Right-shot defensemen of his caliber are hard to acquire.

He would be a great fit in Dallas, but how the Stars navigate that around their limited cap space is another matter.

Blue Jackets looking to buy The Columbus Blue Jackets were among the teams in on Mason Marchment before Dallas shipped him to the Seattle Kraken.

(About 20 teams showed different levels of interest in Marchment, but Dallas needed to move his entire salary and not retain.) Columbus has the most cap room in the league and is eager to add this summer.

But the Jackets dont want to be a dumping ground for bad contracts.

They want to add talent to a team that surprised everyone this past season and nearly made the playoffs.

They thought Marchment would have been a solid add.

They would absolutely enter the Mitch Marner sweepstakes if invited to do so.

But unless something changes, I dont think the Marner camp has Columbus on its list of preferred destinations.

At least not so far.

Where it leaves the Kraken Its been a strong couple of days for Kraken GM Jason Botterill, who basically swapped out the underachieving Andre Burakovsky ($5.5 million average annual value for two more years) for Mason Marchment ($4.5 million AAV).

Marchment didnt have a strong playoffs for Dallas, but hes a more versatile player than Burakovsky in any universe and brings a different element to the Kraken.

Marchment does need a new contract in a year, but hes an upgrade for Seattle by any measure.

Advertisement Tavares and Leafs arent close Theres still more than a week to go before July 1, but the Leafs and John Tavares camp, led by agent Pat Brisson, still havent found their sweet spot on an extension.

Wherever each side is, it wasnt close enough as of Saturday.

The stakes are high here.

Youve got a 34-year-old player who doesnt want to leave his home and a team that can ill-afford to lose a second-line center who just scored 38 goals and 74 points.

Deadlines spur decisions.

Its probably still going to get done, but its a fascinating one to be sure.

(Top photo of Mitch Marner and Connor McDavid: Dan Hamilton / Imagn Images).

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