Earlier today, it was reported that Jonathan Toews informed his agent he wants to play next season, and insider Darren Dreger listed the Jets as a front-runner. The Winnipeg Jets are struggling at center, especially with news Tuesday that captain Adam Lowry underwent hip surgery. <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/winnipeg-jets/winnipeg-jets-stunned-as-star-forward-adam-lowry-out-for-extended-period-due-to-surgery' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>He will be out for 5-6 months,</a> and the team needs help in the middle desperately. <h3>Toews initially mentioned in January he was considering an NHL return</h3> Earlier this year, in January, there had come reports that three-time Stanley Cup champion and Winnipeg native Jonathan Toews was looking at an NHL return after a tough battle with long COVID. One of the rumoured destinations, <a href='https://www.nhl.com/player/jonathan-toews-8473604' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Toews</a> was reported to have been keen on his hometown Jets. A few weeks down the line, insider Pierre LeBrun affirmed there was indeed mutual interest between Toews and the Jets, though any hypothetical move was likely to take place next season. Now, five months on, the rumors have started up again. Today, <a href='https://x.com/DarrenDreger' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Darren Dreger</a> posted on X that Winnipeg would likely be one of the top teams in the running to sign Toews. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/1928155221072531721'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> This was following LeBrun's reporting that Toews had spoken with his agent and officially indicated he wanted to be in the NHL for the upcoming season. Jonathan Toews reached out to his agent Pat Brisson yesterday to inform him he's 100 percent committed to coming back to the NHL next season. Just spoke with Brisson, who says he will start taking calls from NHL teams on Toews now leading up to July 1. Toews, 37, last played in April 2023. He's been working out the last several months to get himself ready for this comeback. - Pierre LeBrun Although Toews is 37 and has been out of the league for the past two years, he isn't a lock for a top-six role, but his leadership and experience would be a value add, especially with the Jets' present shortage at center. It's something to track closely over the next few weeks, and this surely has Jets fans on edge, and eager to see how it all unfolds.