Jets' Jonathan Toews is approaching his first contractual bonus a little over a month into the NHL season, and rival executives have given their honest assessment. Jonathon Toews has <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/winnipeg-jets/jonathan-toews-family-reacts-to-his-return-to-the-ice-with-jets' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>suited up for all 17 of Winnipeg's games so far</a>, a meaningful win for both his health and the Jets' long-term hopes. <h3>What bonus Jonathan Toews is approaching</h3> <a href='https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6808162/2025/11/15/winnipeg-jets-stanley-cup-mackenzie-weegar-trade/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>He's three games away from triggering his first $500,000 bonus</a> and enters the week with three goals and five assists, contributing on the second power play and logging steady second-line minutes at even strength. Still, the Jets' real bet is on the second half of the season. Right now, Toews doesn't look like a true second-line centre on a team with championship aspirations, but the organization is willing to be patient. His early results reflect that approach: at five-on-five, he's been outscored 11-6, and his offensive creation trails what Adam Lowry and Vladislav Namestnikov produced in similar roles through 17 games last year. Yet that's not to say the Jets are disappointed. Toews remains one of the smartest players on the ice, still boasting an elite feel for where the play is going next. The defensive reads, timing, and way he's spotting passing lanes in the offensive zone are still of exceptional quality. <h3>Why one rival executive believes Jonathan Toews is suited for a third line role</h3> So what do rival NHL executives see right now? One executive suggested Toews could become a real asset in a third-line role, a spot that might better suit his current pace while still maximizing his strengths. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/WPGMurat/status/1989706594116899220'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Never bet against smart, said a member of an Eastern Conference team's front office who was granted anonymity in order to speak freely about an opposing team. His skating isn't what it was - not close - but he's still very, very smart. He can make a lot of plays. Sense is still high-end. Good details. He can help in a third-line role. He gets better every week. There's hope there. Might be finding a way to live within his physical limits. He's not going to beat people one-on-one very often any more and defending against speed will be harder, (but) I think he'll figure it out. As I said, never bet against smart. - Unnamed NHL executive With Winnipeg continuing to evaluate, the question will become simple: is this the foundation of a helpful depth piece, or the start of something bigger? Only time and the second half of the season will tell.