Jonathan Toews Reveals When He Will Announce His Next Team; The Leafs Are in the Mix

There are a number of intriguing storylines to follow this summer, especially if you're a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Not only are the Leafs reportedly closing in on contract extensions for Matthew Knies and John Tavares, but they're also likely to lose Mitch Marner and will enter this summer with some serious cap space to spend.

One player to whom the Leafs have been linked over the last couple of weeks is former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews.

Toews has no shortage of teams interested in enlisting his services, but with the goal of competing for his fourth Stanley Cup on his mind, he'll want to go to a contending team.

According to a report on Wednesday, Toews is nearing the point where he'll make his final decision. According to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, Toews will select his next team by the NHL Entry Draft.

As Pagnotta pointed out, the deal cannot be made official until July 1st, but Toews has full freedom to discuss the framework of a contract ahead of time and then finalize everything when the clock strikes noon on July 1st.

Adding a player like Toews would certainly solve the issue of who will be the 3rd line center in Toronto next season, and while the veteran pivot hasn't played professional hockey in a couple of years, his pedigree and work ethic speak for themselves, and he should have no issue, given that he's been training hard for this, of enjoying a successful comeback. Whether that's in Toronto or elsewhere remains to be seen.