TORONTO — Seven years ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs were major players in free agency, famously signing John Tavares after an intense bidding war on Canada Day. That day brought aspirations of multiple championships.
After seven consecutive early playoff exits, the Maple Leafs face the risk of losing their most valuable unrestricted free agent without compensation. This puts General Manager Brad Treliving in a critical situation, needing to build a team capable of ending their playoff drought and challenging top teams like the Panthers, all while maintaining the league`s longest active playoff streak.
This is a significant challenge, especially with Mitch Marner`s high-scoring offense (102 points) and strong defensive play potentially leaving. It`s even more difficult given the limited number of top-tier, prime-age players available on the free agent market.
GM Brad Treliving acknowledges the impact: “If Mitch departs, we lose everything he brings, and we still need to improve,” he states. “We will evaluate options across all positions.”
The upside is that the over $12 million potentially saved from Marner`s salary provides significant financial flexibility for the 2025-26 roster, allowing for more creative and deeper team building.
While funds are available, having cap space can be a mixed blessing.
Key successes for the front office include John Tavares re-signing for a significant discount and restricted free agent Matthew Knies getting an extension at a favorable rate.
With the defense and goaltending relatively stable and not requiring immediate major changes, Treliving`s primary focus for recruitment will be on forwards.
The difficult task is to enhance the team within their current competitive window (with Auston Matthews having three years remaining on his deal) without overspending on average players in what`s considered a weak unrestricted free agent class.
Treliving is seeking players with competitive drive. He emphasizes, “Success requires everything – skill, talent. But ultimately, it’s about competitiveness,” adding, “We witness this every spring during the playoffs. We are committed to fostering that quality.”
Current Financial Overview:
- Salary cap space: $10.1 million
- Roster size: 20/23
Salary Committed By Position:
- Forwards: $52.8 million
- Defence: $25.7 million
- Goalies: $6.2 million
- Carryover bonuses: $626,230
Potential UFA Targets:
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Brad Marchand, LW / RW, 37 (Florida Panthers) – Previous Cap Hit: $6.75 million
Florida has made an offer, but if Marchand seeks maximum value, joining a team he`s historically eliminated could be an option. With Marner`s potential departure, Marchand offers a rare combination of power play, penalty kill, scoring, and leadership from a veteran known for his competitive fire. Sam Bennett describes him as the “biggest dawg” he`s played with. He`s reportedly Treliving`s top choice, though Boston also retains interest.
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Andrew Mangiapane, LW, 29 (Washington Capitals) – Previous Cap Hit: $5.8 million
A former 35-goal scorer under Treliving in Calgary, Mangiapane`s profile is lower after a less productive season in Washington (14 goals, 28 points). The hope is that surrounding him with top linemates in Toronto could reignite his offensive contributions, making him a solid middle-six forward option. He is a Toronto native.
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Brandon Tanev, LW / RW, 33 (Seattle Kraken) – Previous Cap Hit: $3.5 million
No team has ever felt they have too much of Tanev. Chris Tanev`s younger brother is a popular teammate who understands his role as a high-energy fourth-liner. While Toronto`s fourth line is still developing, Tanev would make sense if willing to accept a reduced salary. Cole Koepke, 27, who hasn`t re-signed in Boston, is a lesser-known alternative.
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Corey Perry, RW, 40 (Edmonton Oilers) – Previous Cap Hit: $1.15 million
Rewind to 2020, the Leafs signed Wayne Simmonds over Perry for a similar gritty, net-front role. Simmonds has since retired, but the 40-year-old Perry continues to reach the Stanley Cup Final and shows no signs of stopping. While repeating 19 regular-season and 10 playoff goals might be unrealistic, Perry brings winning experience and changes the team`s dynamic, continuing a trend of former Leafs antagonists joining the club.
Other potential fits: Nick Bjugstad, Connor Brown, Mikael Granlund, Pius Suter, Nikolaj Ehlers, Cole Koepke, Mikey Eyssimont, Anthony Beauvillier, John Klingberg
