In the latest MLHS Podcast, Nick Ashbourne and Anthony Petrielli tee up the Maple Leafs’ 2025 offseason with a preview of the draft, the unrestricted free agency pool, and the Matthew Knies and John Tavares contract negotiations.
Episode Topics
- Whether a Mitch Marner sign-and-trade or rights deal is a real possibility, and the prospect of Marner walking out the door for free (1:00)
- The silver linings of Marner likely leaving Toronto (12:45)
- The John Tavares contract negotiation, and whether it’s really hit a roadblock (16:45)
- The Much Ado About Nothing with the “why isn’t Matthew Knies signed to a new contract yet” conversation (29:00)
- Previewing the Maple Leafs‘ six-selection 2025 draft (37:00)
- The Leafs‘ ability to be players in the trade market and some possible targets (49:00)
- UFA Targets: Brad Marchand (56:00)
- UFA Targets: Aaron Ekblad (1:03:00)
- Other UFA Targets: Nikolaj Ehlers, Connor Brown, Reilly Smith, Anthony Beauvillier, Pius Suter, Anthony Mantha, Andrei Kuzmenko, Brandon Saad, Andrew Mangiapane, and Brandon Tanev (1:14:00)
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![John Gruden after the Leafs prospects’ 4-1 win over Montreal: “[Vyacheslav Peksa] looked really comfortable in the net… We wouldn’t have won without him” John Gruden, head coach of the Toronto Marlies](https://mapleleafshotstove.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/gruden-post-game-sep-14-218x150.jpg)

















