I really don’t try to “clickbait” too much because, you know, I have some standards and quaint old journalistic notions that you shouldn’t do that (no jokes please). But, hell, it’s July 30 and we’re still sitting around waiting to see what happens with Nazem Kadri and this is a website devoted to All Things Avalanche. And, a reader put forth a proposal to me the other day that, the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. It involves Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks icon, coming to the Colorado Avalanche.

First off, I’ve heard absolutely nothing that this could or will happen. But second, Toews doesn’t seem too thrilled with what’s been going on in Chicago the last few months, roster-wise. The team has traded some really good young players, such as Alex DeBrincat, Brandon Hagel and Kirby Dach, in moves that were heavily criticized for not getting enough back. He told Mark Lazerus of The Athletic, “At the end of the day, we’re talking about a five-plus-year process, according to Kyle (Davidson, GM). So that part of it doesn’t sound appealing to me at all. I can’t speak for Kaner, but I definitely feel that the amount of turnover our team has gone through every single year these last three or four years, that’s where it gets really, really draining. And exhausting.”

In his talk with Lazerus, Toews also said how he finally feels great again physically, and can’t wait to get the next season going, to prove to people he’s got a lot left in the tank.

So, here you have a player who doesn’t sound like he wants to be part of any rebuilding process, who doesn’t seem to be having any talks whatsoever about signing an extension with the Blackhawks, who has one year left on his contract, at a $10.5 million cap hit, who can be UFA after this coming season.

Sounds like a guy who, if I’m Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland anyway, I might be interested in as a possible replacement for Kadri – who remains unsigned.

One key thing: Toews has a full no-move, no-trade clause. Chicago cannot trade him without his consent, to anywhere. But, hmm, wonder if Toews might waive that clause to come to the defending Stanley Cup champions who might – might – have an opening at second-line center?