Maple Leafs’ Offseason Rumour Tracker (last update: July 16)

Keep track of Toronto Maple Leafs-related rumours throughout the 2025 offseason.

The information below is organized by player/person involved, noting the source and date for each rumour, allowing readers to follow along easily. Be sure to bookmark this page and check back for regular updates during a potentially chaotic offseason of change for the Leafs.

The updates below will mainly include the big five “insiders:” Elliotte Friedman, Chris Johnston, Darren Dreger, Pierre LeBrun, and Frank Seravalli. Everyone has their own opinion on who to trust; we’ll include them all and let you, the reader, decide how much weight to give each.

If you spot a mistake or want to share a tip, feel free to reach out.

The following rumour feed is maintained by @Nylanderthews

Recent Rumour Updates

Brad Treliving, Maple Leafs
Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

July 15th

  • On The FAN Pregame, Nick Kypreos said that Nazem Kadri has not requested a trade, and the Calgary Flames have not approached him about one either.
  • On The FAN Pregame, Nick Kypreos said he believes there have been conversations between the Leafs and Morgan Rielly’s camp about the possibility of him waiving his no-move clause. However, the feedback from Rielly’s side was that he is not willing to do so at this time, and he is expected to start the season with the Leafs—unless something changes dramatically.
  • In his latest Off-Season Trade Board at Sportsnet, Nick Kypreos linked Nazem Kadri and the Maple Leafs:

Two teams that Kadri continues to be linked to and appear to be willing to lift his no-move clause for are the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto’s Brad Treliving has tried numerous times to trade with his old club in the past only to be shut down by the Flames on Tanev, Zadorov and Andersson, so it may be a stretch for the Leafs to land Kadri.

As I see it, the teams that are under the most intense pressure to add a game-changing player include Edmonton, Toronto, Colorado and Los Angeles.

The second tier that doesn’t necessarily have the same urgency, but could use a trade jolt, include Washington, Montreal, Ottawa, New Jersey and Dallas.

Still on the outside looking to get into the playoffs with a trade we have Columbus leading the charge followed closely by Detroit, Utah, Anaheim and Vancouver.

And several teams are looking for a scoring centremen, a premium position that dried up quickly in free agency.

John Tavares never got to the open market, but he would have been the perfect barometer for seeing how much teams were willing to spend for a scoring centre to fill a void.

That is the main reason why I’ve added Nazem Kadri to my list. Given how thin the market is for centres and how well he played last season, Kadri’s stock has never been higher if Flames general manager Craig Conroy chooses to pull the trigger.

  • Kypreos also included Morgan Rielly on his trade board:

GM Brad Treliving is aiming to give his team a new look next season and change over part of the core. Given the blue line is in a good place and forward is where the Leafs have more questions and holes to fill, might they look to flip a blueliner for, ideally, a top-six scorer?

Morgan Rielly was on our last off-season trade board and remains here today. He has five years remaining on his contract and makes $7.5 million against the cap. However, he also has a full no-movement clause, so any trade would need his approval. If asked, would the 31-year-old Rielly be open to a fresh start?

  • And lastly, Kypreos included Brandon Carlo as well:

It may be hard to believe the Leafs would trade away Carlo so soon after paying a steep price to acquire him, but the fact is Toronto doesn’t have many assets to make a deal with. Right-shot, minute-munching defencemen will always have a market in the NHL and so Carlo is the one trade chip that could command a lot of attention. He could be part of a deal that adds some scoring to the forward group as they recover from the loss of Mitch Marner.

July 10th

  • On Leafs Morning Take, David Pagnotta said he hasn’t heard anything linking Erik Karlsson to the Maple Leafs. He also mentioned that he’s been led to believe there was a brief discussion with Morgan Rielly during exit meetings about his no-move clause, though he’s unsure where that conversation ultimately led.
  • James Mirtle in The Athletic:

….my sense is the front office is far from done.

It just might take a while for more things to get done.

I think [Jack Roslovic] is roughly 50-50 right now, but it sounds like the ball is in the Leafs’ court here, in that he’s interested in the opportunity. And I don’t think it would cost a lot, in terms of dollars or term.

Our player cards had Roslovic’s market value last season at around $2.6 million; if he signs for something in that range — it could even be closer to $2.85 million, accounting for the cap going up — then I could see it making sense as another option to give them offence down the lineup instead of the Steven Lorentz-David Kämpf-Calle Järnkrok-Michael Pezzetta no-goal crew.

Where it could especially make sense is if GM Brad Treliving can subtract someone such as Kämpf’s $2.4 million cap hit and earmark a big chunk of that for Roslovic.

July 9th

  • On the Cam & Strick Podcast, Andy Strickland said a player told him that Mitch Marner had been talking about going to Vegas for about a year. He also mentioned that Marner brought up Vegas during the Four Nations tournament.

July 8th

  • TheLeafsNation’s Nick Richard on X:

I’m not an insider by any means, but further to this report, I have also heard from a reliable source that the #LeafsForever are among the teams kicking tires on Dougie Hamilton in New Jersey.

No, I don’t know how the trade would work or how seriously the Devils are shopping Hamilton but I’ve been told the Leafs’ interest is legitimate.

July 7th

  • On the Chris Johnston Show, Chris Johnston said the Leafs might not be able to fill their hole in the top six this summer, largely because they don’t have much to trade. He mentioned names like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Jared McCann as potentially available, but noted the Leafs may not be in a position—or have the desire—to pursue those players.

July 6th

  • Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast:

    • Three or four teams were in on Matias Maccelli, including Boston and Edmonton. Shane Doan believes Maccelli can become a very good player.

    • Friedman mentioned that one other player he believes the Leafs are in on is Jack Roslovic. He noted he’s a right-handed shot, adding that the connection’s there as Auston Matthews knows him, and said he’s curious to see if it happens.

    • One of the reasons the Leafs didn’t land Andrew Mangiapane, according to Friedman, is that the team indicated they needed to move out some players first. Mangiapane didn’t want to wait, but Roslovic is still waiting.

    • Friedman assumes that one of the players Toronto is trying to move is David Kämpf, and another could potentially be Calle Järnkrok.

    • He also wondered if the Leafs might be trying to trade a defenseman for a forward. This was rumored when they were weighing in on J.J. Peterka, a deal that ultimately didn’t happen, but he thinks it’s something the team has explored.

    • Friedman believes the Leafs will try to move some players out before bringing others in.

July 3rd

  • According to Nick Kypreos in the Toronto Star, the Leafs offered Brock Boeser a higher average annual value than Vancouver, but the Canucks countered with a longer-term deal.

Player-by-Player Rumour Tracker

Mitch Marner, John Tavares, Maple Leafs vs. Kraken
Photo: Stephen Brashear/USA Today Spors

Nazem Kadri

July 15th
  • On The FAN Pregame, Nick Kypreos said that Nazem Kadri has not requested a trade, and the Calgary Flames have not approached him about one either.
  • In his latest Off-Season Trade Board at Sportsnet, Nick Kypreos linked Nazem Kadri and the Maple Leafs:

Two teams that Kadri continues to be linked to and appear to be willing to lift his no-move clause for are the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto’s Brad Treliving has tried numerous times to trade with his old club in the past only to be shut down by the Flames on Tanev, Zadorov and Andersson, so it may be a stretch for the Leafs to land Kadri.

Brandon Carlo

July 15th

It may be hard to believe the Leafs would trade away Carlo so soon after paying a steep price to acquire him, but the fact is Toronto doesn’t have many assets to make a deal with. Right-shot, minute-munching defencemen will always have a market in the NHL and so Carlo is the one trade chip that could command a lot of attention. He could be part of a deal that adds some scoring to the forward group as they recover from the loss of Mitch Marner.

June 24th

[Brandon] Carlo’s name has popped up in conversation in recent days, even though he was just acquired on Deadline Day from Boston in exchange for first and fourth round picks plus Fraser Minten. To be blunt: Toronto really isn’t itching to move Carlo. He is a big man who adds reliable depth at a reasonable cap hit and he’s in the prime of his career. But the Leafs may be able to parlay Carlo, at a premium position, into a higher-end forward to add to the lineup. Few things are off the table at this point for GM Brad Treliving.

June 23rd
  • On the JD Bunkis Show, James Mirtle mentioned it’s becoming more possible that the Leafs move a defenseman, given their current lack of trade assets. He specifically pointed out Brandon Carlo, who has no trade protection and is on a reasonable contract.

Jack Roslovic

July 10th

I think [Jack Roslovic] is roughly 50-50 right now, but it sounds like the ball is in the Leafs’ court here, in that he’s interested in the opportunity. And I don’t think it would cost a lot, in terms of dollars or term.

Our player cards had Roslovic’s market value last season at around $2.6 million; if he signs for something in that range — it could even be closer to $2.85 million, accounting for the cap going up — then I could see it making sense as another option to give them offence down the lineup instead of the Steven Lorentz-David Kämpf-Calle Järnkrok-Michael Pezzetta no-goal crew.

Where it could especially make sense is if GM Brad Treliving can subtract someone such as Kämpf’s $2.4 million cap hit and earmark a big chunk of that for Roslovic.

July 6th

  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that one other player he believes the Leafs are in on is Jack Roslovic. He’s a right-handed shot, adding that the connection’s there as Auston Matthews knows him, and said he’s curious to see if it happens. One of the reasons the Leafs didn’t land Andrew Mangiapane, according to Friedman, is that the team indicated they needed to move out some players first. Mangiapane didn’t want to wait, but Roslovic is still waiting.

John Tavares

June 27th
  • BREAKING: The Toronto Maple Leafs announce the team has re-signed John Tavares to a four-year extension worth $4.38 million per year.
  • David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that the current offer on the table for Tavares is four years at $5 million per season.
  • On the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman noted that there was some movement on Thursday regarding John Tavares’ contract situation.
June 26th
  • On Insider Trading, Chris Johnston said that as of Thursday morning, the word on the contract negotiations between the Leafs and John Tavares is that things are “inching along.” Progress is being made, though it’s coming slowly. He added that the Leafs are negotiating hard and leveraging the fact that Tavares clearly wants to remain in Toronto.
  • On The FAN Morning Show, Nick Kypreos said the Leafs no longer view John Tavares as a second-line centre and are not willing to pay him second-line centre money. As a result, they are actively searching for a new second-line centre.
June 25th

Dialogue continues between the Toronto Maple Leafs and John Tavares’ camp, led by agent Pat Brisson. It’s been a grind. But what’s important to note is they’re keeping at it. The dialogue is almost daily. The sides are motivated to find a way to get it done, although the closer next Tuesday gets, the more real the idea of Tavares, 34, dipping his toes becomes. I think it gets done before that happens, but I’m not as confident as I was a week ago.

Two recent contract extensions have impacted the negotiations: Matt Duchene, 34, at four years with a $4.5 million average annual value, and Brock Nelson, 33, at three years and a $7.5 million AAV. You can see how Leafs general manager Brad Treliving would be pointing to Duchene’s AAV — and how Brisson would say, well, Tavares outscored Nelson this past year. So … where’s the sweet spot?

Tavares is willing to take less than market value to stay in Toronto. So he’s not trying to come close to Nelson’s new deal, as far as I can tell. On the open market on a two-year deal, I believe Tavares could fetch $7.5 million if not $8 million. Again, on a two-year deal.

If the Leafs put four years and a $5 million AAV on the table, Tavares would probably take it. I don’t think he would do $5 million for three years, though. So that’s similar to Duchene’s deal (which was negotiated by CAA as well) — just a tad more to reflect the different tax realities of the markets.

But both sides need to move toward each other over the coming days. And I think they will. I just can’t see the Leafs being OK losing both Tavares and Mitch Marner at the same time — that’s 176 points from this past season out the door — and I think it’s real just how badly Tavares wants to stay home.

June 24th
  • On First Up, Chris Johnston mentioned that if John Tavares doesn’t return, the Leafs may pivot to a player like Mikael Granlund as a potential replacement. He added that the Leafs and Tavares remain “wide apart” on money. While a long-term deal might help close the gap, neither side has reached that point yet. Both parties understand that some movement will be necessary, and with a week to go before July 1st, Tavares is still considered more likely to re-sign with Toronto than to leave.
June 23rd
  • On The JD Bunkis Show, James Mirtle said he still believes the Leafs can get a deal done with John Tavares, but acknowledged it’s been more difficult than expected, especially given that Tavares could likely command around $8 million in unrestricted free agency due to the weak center market. Mirtle still thinks both sides will probably land on something similar to the Chris Tanev contract.
  • On The FAN Morning Show, Frank Seravalli said he hasn’t heard that the Leafs are offering John Tavares under $4 million, but suggested there should be a compromise somewhere between that figure and Brock Nelson’s deal—possibly around three years at $6 million per season.
June 21st

On Friday, we weren’t sure whether contract talks between the Toronto Maple Leafs and John Tavares were close or far. We were told they are “in the process” of negotiating. Well, earlier today we were told the two sides aren’t close, at all. While we are still 10 days away from July 1, leaving plenty of time to iron out a new deal, it sounds like the Leafs have pitched a three-year deal worth less than $4 million per season. That won’t get it done. Let’s see how things progress.

There’s still more than a week to go before July 1, but the Leafs and John Tavares’ camp, led by agent Brisson, still haven’t found their sweet spot on an extension. Wherever each side is, it wasn’t close enough as of Saturday.

The stakes are high here. You’ve got a 34-year-old player who doesn’t want to leave his home and a team that can ill-afford to lose a second-line center who just scored 38 goals and 74 points. Deadlines spur decisions. It’s probably still going to get done, but it’s a fascinating one to be sure.

June 20th

There are several teams who believe that, on the open market, John Tavares — 13 months older than Brock Nelson — could match the latter’s three-year, $7.5 million AAV contract from Colorado. Again, Toronto could choose to stretch it out to make the money match over a longer term. We’ll see.

  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that the Leafs would like to work out a contract with John Tavares similar to the one Chris Tanev signed. However, a few teams and agents have told him that the Brock Nelson contract—worth $22.5 million—is something Tavares could reasonably get on the open market, which complicates how the Leafs can structure a deal to bring that number down.
June 16th
  • On First Up, Chris Johnston suggested Tavares’ next contract should resemble Yanni Gourde’s in terms of term—six years—though it will almost certainly carry an average annual value above $5 million.
June 13th
  • Andy Strickland on X:

Marner leaving Toronto could open the door for John Tavares to return. Heading into the season the Leafs were expected to allow the veteran center to walk. With Marner leaving that mindset has changed. #LeafsForever

  • On First Up, Darren Dreger said that if John Tavares signs an extension, there will likely be some pushback regarding the term, as it’s expected to be longer than some people would prefer.
  • On 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman once again brought up the idea that the Chris Tanev contract structure could be a potential model for a Tavares extension. 
June 11th

The Leafs and John Tavares’ camp continue to talk and touched base again this week. There remains mutual interest in getting something done, but finding that sweet spot on a fair deal isn’t quite there yet. The idea that Tavares might sign for a bargain $5 million AAV seems like a stretch to me. It’s going to have to be above that to get it done given the year he just had, although term is part of the equation as well.

  • On the Leaf Report (June 10th), James Mirtle reported that the Tavares extension is still being worked on and will likely be complex and unconventional. One possibility floated was a six-year deal at $4 million per season.
June 9th
  • On the JD Bunkis Show, James Mirtle said a contract similar to Chris Tanev’s (six years at $4.5 million AAV) is the right ballpark for Tavares, and with deferred money, he believes the Leafs could get Tavares signed for six years at under a $4 million AAV. They would then talk to Craig Berube about the role, because Tavares shouldn’t be the second-line center in the playoffs (third-line center vs. second-line left wing, etc.)
June 5th
  • On the Chris Johnston Show, Chris Johnston said he doesn’t think the Leafs will have much time for Brock Nelson-level AAV with Tavares. Johnston mentioned that a more realistic comparable might be Yanni Gourde and that it wouldn’t surprise him if Tavares took that type of deal, possibly even deferring some money. Johnston added that both sides have thought about that type of contract structure.
June 4th
  • On The FAN Hockey Show, Elliotte Friedman said he still believes John Tavares will re-sign before hitting free agency. He added that he can’t help but wonder if Tavares ends up with a contract structured more like those of Chris Tanev or Yanni Gourde—featuring more term and a lower average annual value—rather than a shorter two-year deal at a higher AAV.
May 29th
  • On The Chris Johnston Show, Chris Johnston said he now believes there’s a 70/30 chance that Tavares stays with the team, but suggested it was around 90/10 before Brad Treliving’s end-of-season press conference.
May 26th
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman says as long as neither side is unreasonable, you have to believe a Tavares extension gets done.
May 23rd
  • On the JD Bunkis show, David Pagnotta says John Tavares’ AAV is probably slotting around $5 million.
May 21st
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman says he doesn’t think the Leafs will make Tavares the biggest offer.
May 20th
  • On TSN Overdrive, Chris Johnston says he doesn’t get the sense Tavares is looking to use his leverage and believes Tavares’ side will work with the Leafs to find a deal that makes sense. CJ adds that Tavares’ AAV will be cut in half or more.

Matthew Knies

June 29th
  • BREAKING: The Toronto Maple Leafs and Matthew Knies have agreed to a six-year contract extension, with a $7.75 million AAV.
June 27th
  • David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that following JJ Peterka’s recent extension, Knies is now expected to come in at a deal spanning four or five years with an average annual value of over $7 million.
  • On the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman said that with Wyatt Johnston signing for five years at $8.4 million and JJ Peterka at five years for $7.7 million, Matthew Knies’ extension should likely fall somewhere in that range.
June 26th
  • On The DFO Rundown, Frank Seravalli said he believes Matthew Knies’ contract will likely end up being five years in length, with a lower average annual value than Wyatt Johnston’s $8.4 million deal.
June 23rd
  • On the JD Bunkis Show, James Mirtle said he would be really surprised if a deal for Matthew Knies is finalized before July 1st.
June 20th
  • David Pagnotta on X:

It’s all about perspective. Contract talks between Toronto and the Knies camp are active, but plenty of work remains. One side tells me they are not close to a new deal, while the other side disagrees. Still feel this falls in the 3-5 year range, whenever it gets done.

June 19th
  • Nick Alberga on X:

With the Draft just around the corner & July 1st looming, I’m told the Leafs & Matthew Knies are currently far apart in contract talks. That said, both sides remain optimistic on finding common ground in the coming weeks.

June 19th
  • Nick Kypreos in the Toronto Star:

A few eyebrows are being raised with no announcement of a new contract for RFA Matthew Knies as we inch closer towards July 1. Some early indications point to a very large ask by the Knies camp and the Leafs could be reluctant to give in at this point. It may also indicate a new philosophy on being tougher when it comes to handing young star players money and term like the previous regime.

June 17th
  • On the Leaf Report, James Mirtle wonders if there’s value for the Leafs in pursuing a long-term deal now, even if it means taking on some risk. He floated the idea of paying Knies around $8 to $8.5 million on a long-term contract, questioning how much more he could really command down the line. Ultimately, Mirtle believes a bridge deal makes more sense for the Leafs at this stage—potentially something in the range of three years at $5.75 million per season.
June 13th
  • On OverDrive (June 12th), Darren Dreger said he expects Matthew Knies’ contract extension to be one of the first items addressed by Brad Treliving this offseason.
June 9th

And the Leafs remain confident they will get Matthew Knies inked to a reasonable second contract without any offer-sheet drama.

May 30th
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman noted that both the Leafs and Matthew Knies would be happy with an eight-year extension, but wonders whether the two sides will be able to agree on what that looks like.
May 29th
  • On The Chris Johnston Show, Chris Johnston discussed potential extension scenarios for Knies, suggesting that an eight-year deal could come in around $8 million per season, while a shorter three-year bridge deal would likely fall in the $4 to $5 million range annually.
May 26th
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman reports the Leafs and Knies had preliminary extension talks around the trade deadline (when the whole Rantanen situation was happening), and the Leafs know what a contract would look like. The Leafs are also well aware of the offer sheet talk.
May 23rd
  • On the JD Bunkis show, David Pagnotta suggests Matthew Knies’ contract is expected to be in the 3-5 year range and between $7 million and $8 million.
May 22nd
  • On The Chris Johnston Show, Chris Johnston suggests that the Leafs’ comfort level for a Matthew Knies extension is below $8 million per year.

Brad Marchand

June 30th
  • On The FAN Morning Show, Frank Seravalli said it will be very difficult for any team to match the Leafs’ rumored offer of four years at $9 million for Brad Marchand, noting that he believes that number is too high. Despite Toronto’s strong interest, he added that there’s still a significant possibility Marchand remains in Florida.
June 29th
  • James Mirtle in The Athletic:

As far as I can gather, the Leafs’ biggest bet on July 1 is apparently going to be an attempt to sign Brad Marchand. That would obviously eat up a huge percentage of their remaining cap space — likely in the $8 million range — with the understanding the 37-year-old would be a big part of their top-six for the next few years.

June 27th
  • On Insider Trading, Darren Dreger reported that the Leafs would consider Brad Marchand, as an unrestricted free agent, their top priority, envisioning him playing on a line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
June 26th
  • On the Ray and Dregs Podcast, Darren Dreger said, “Can you envision Marchand in a Leafs uniform? Because I can,” adding that the Leafs’ interest in Marchand is significant. He also mentioned that Marchand likes the idea of playing for Craig Berube—if things don’t work out in Florida.
  • On The FAN Morning Show, Nick Kypreos said that Florida can’t come close to matching what the Leafs can offer financially for Brad Marchand—though he noted that other factors will influence Marchand’s decision.
June 20th
  • On Leafs Morning Take, Nick Kypreos said there’s a very good chance that Brad Marchand ends up signing with the Maple Leafs. He added, “I don’t know how he doesn’t end up a Maple Leaf, let me put it to you that way.”
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman reported that $24 million is the “magic number” being discussed for Brad Marchand, though he could receive more depending on how the deal is structured. He noted that Toronto will be among the teams in the mix.
June 19th
  • Nick Kypreos in the Toronto Star:

There is talk the Leafs may shoot for the moon and make offers to Panthers free agents Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad with hopes to land one or two of them. The key to an Ekblad offer will likely hinge on the Leafs’ ability to get out from under Morgan Rielly’s no-move clause.

June 16th
  • On First Up, Chris Johnston said the Leafs should be right near the front of the line for Brad Marchand and that there’s definitely a chance they could sign him to a deal.
  • James Mirtle in The Athletic:

Marchand, however, is going to enter free agency with a ton of suitors, and you’d really be guessing trying to forecast where he lands. I do think he’ll be interested in the challenge/opportunity of coming to Toronto and trying to help them finally have more playoff success. But it’s going to cost the Leafs (or whoever ends up signing him).

If the Leafs are willing to meet that asking price, I really think they’ll have a decent shot. There just aren’t going to be many contenders willing to spend that much. And, frankly, it’s not like they’re going to have a ton of other high-end options, so he might represent their best shot to change this team’s DNA when the games matter the most.

June 11th

The door isn’t closed on staying with the Florida Panthers, but with pending unrestricted free agent and Conn Smythe contender Sam Bennett a top priority for the Panthers and Aaron Ekblad also a pending UFA, it’s probably most likely Marchand is going to market where total dollars will be the top priority moreso than the actual average annual value. I think he’s going to get three or four years and easily north of $8 million a year.

And yes, as others have wondered, I do believe the Toronto Maple Leafs will be among the possibilities for Marchand. I mean, he mentioned during the second-round series with Toronto that he grew up a Leafs fan. But to be clear, there are multiple teams in play for Marchand if and when he hits the market.

  • On the Leaf Report (June 10th), James Mirtle emphasized that Brad Marchand would be a good fit for the Leafs.
June 10th
  • On the FAN Hockey Show, Elliotte Friedman said there was a rumor circulating at the combine that Marchand has a 3-year, $8 million per year offer on the table. It’s unclear if that’s accurate, but his reported ask from Boston before the trade was $7.5 million annually.
June 9th

Would a big run at Marchand make sense, even with his age and sky-high asking price? It certainly looks like a real option, especially considering his ability to rise to the occasion in the playoffs — and the alternatives.

June 6th
  • On Real Kyper and Bourne, Nick Kypreos said it’s more realistic that Brad Marchand signs with the Leafs and ends up playing on the wing with Auston Matthews than the Leafs landing Sam Bennett.
May 19th
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Friedman says after watching Brad Marchand fence with the media after Game 7, he wonders if the Leafs will take a run at him this summer.

Mitch Marner

July 9th
  • On the Cam & Strick Podcast, Andy Strickland said a player told him that Mitch Marner had been talking about going to Vegas for about a year. He also mentioned that Marner brought up Vegas during the Four Nations tournament.
June 30th
  • On The FAN Morning Show, Frank Seravalli reported that some within the Maple Leafs organization believe the Vegas Golden Knights may have been tampering with Mitch Marner for nearly a year—dating back to when the player and his camp stopped being willing to negotiate with the team.
  • On Spittin’ Chiclets, Elliotte Friedman said he still believes it’s very possible that Mitch Marner will be traded to Vegas, and he thinks Nicolas Roy would be part of the return going to the Leafs. Friedman mentioned that he’s now hearing Marner’s deal with Vegas is likely to be longer than the previously reported four years. With Vegas acquiring Colton Sissons—potentially as a replacement for Nicolas Roy—Friedman wonders whether a Roy-for-Marner trade could be finalized before noon.
  • On First Up, Darren Dreger said he has no reason to believe something won’t happen between the Leafs and Vegas before tomorrow regarding a potential Mitch Marner sign-and-trade. He added that he would be surprised if Marner’s new deal is less than seven years. Dreger also noted that Brad Marchand is likely to remain in Florida.
  • Nick Alberga on X:

    Things can change, but at this point, it seems like the likeliest scenario to play out is Marner goes to market and chooses Vegas. Tomorrow should be fascinating.

June 28th
  • BREAKING: The Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights are in talks on a sign-and-trade involving Mitch Marner.
  • Elliotte Friedman on X:

Something to keep an eye: on-and-off this week, Toronto and Vegas have been discussing the possibility of a sign-and-trade involving Mitch Marner Likelihood of it happening: hard to say. But talks have occurred and continue to do so.

I believe Nic Roy will be going to Toronto if this gets done

  • Darren Dreger on X:

Sources say talks are ongoing between Vegas and Toronto re sign and trade for Marner.

  • Bruce Garrioch on X:

There is talk amongst league executives that Leafs have asked for Nicolas Roy and Nicolas Hague in return. It will be interesting to see if this happens..

June 24th

I’m hearing as much as half the league will try and take a run at Marner in free agency, but the serious bidders will be established well before July 1. However, while the focus around Marner has to do with his free agent status, we can’t rule out the potential for a sign and trade here. For example, going back to Vegas and Karlsson, obtaining a No. 2 centre is as high a priority for Toronto as a top winger replacement for Marner this summer.

So, Marner ends up on my trade list and is perhaps the most interesting case to watch this week leading into the draft on Friday and Saturday, before free agency opens next Tuesday.

June 21st

The rumor du jour — and it is very much that, as I’ve not confirmed it but have heard it now from two teams — is that one option Mitch Marner is considering is a two-year deal at around $12 million to $13 million per year, positioning him to hit the market again when the salary cap skyrockets to $113 million or higher in a couple of years.

The risk is injury, of course, but at 28 now, he would be 30 when he is a UFA again if he went that route.

The Vegas Golden Knights, the Stars and the Kings are among the teams that I believe are high on Marner’s list. The Stars would be a long-shot fit given their financial commitment to Mikko Rantanen, but never say never.

June 20th

Let’s look at a few things, starting with Mitch Marner. Teams are preparing for Marner to meet with teams starting July 1 (probably virtually, unless someone wants to come to Toronto), and then him visiting a team or two before announcing a decision. When I mentioned that on the podcast last week, a few sources reached out to say it’s a good plan with one flaw: what if a team Marner likes says, “We don’t have time for this. We need to know if you’re coming. If you’re not, we can’t wait for Plan B. Sorry, give us an answer.”

Toronto was offered a meeting, but I’m not sure they’d feel the need to go through with it. I got pushback on the idea Marner could opt for a four-year deal — giving him another payday at age 32 — but a few teams said they’d heard about it. Lots of twists and turns on this file over the next two weeks. Barring a sudden change in philosophy, Carolina is expected to push all chips into the pot. I’m watching Vegas, with several of their Western Conference brethren pushing hard.

June 17th
  • On the Leaf Report, James Mirtle shared some insight into the situation between Mitch Marner and the Leafs. He said Marner’s camp has been distancing itself from the team since the end of Game 7, and described the relationship between the two sides as really bad. From speaking with people around the organization, Mirtle believes Marner no longer wants anything to do with the Leafs, saying “he’s over it” is an accurate way to sum up how the winger feels about being in Toronto. The prevailing sense from Marner’s camp is that he has unfairly shouldered too much of the blame for the team’s lack of postseason success.
June 15th
  • On the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman said the Leafs have tried to initiate conversations with Mitch Marner, but his camp has not been engaging. He also mentioned that some of Marner’s teammates privately suspect he may be planning to head out west, with Los Angeles and Vegas as teams to watch—though nothing is confirmed.
June 13th
  • Andy Strickland on X:

Can confirm Mitch Marner will not be returning to Toronto. Will be playing for a new team come next season. #LeafsForever

  • David Pagnotta on X:

When/if Mitch Marner hits the open market July 1, the expectation is the Carolina Hurricanes are going to take a massive swing to try and sign him. Sources say we shouldn’t be surprised if they go above $14M on an AAV over a 7-year term. UFA market opens in 18 days.

June 11th

Neither side appears to be very willing to assist the other at this exact moment in time, a frosty relationship between team and player filled with finger pointing. But it might be mutually beneficial to come together over the next few weeks. Marner could jump the market with a preferred destination and work a sign-and-trade that gets him an eighth year on a deal, if interested. The Leafs could help orchestrate and recoup an asset, potentially as much as a second-round pick. Neither part is a game-changer, but could be helpful.

  • On the Leaf Report (June 10th), James Mirtle said he believes Vegas is the most likely landing spot for Mitch Marner, based on conversations at the combine. Other teams are expected to offer more money, though—it could come down to a decision between $12 million in Vegas and $14.5 million in Anaheim, for example.
June 9th
  • On the JD Bunkis Show, James Mirtle said there’s some acrimony between the Maple Leafs and Mitch Marner’s camp, and both sides would need to work together for a potential sign-and-trade. The most likely scenario, according to Mirtle, is that Marner waits until July 1. At most, the Leafs would receive a second-round pick in return in a sign-and-trade scenario.
  • James Mirtle in The Athletic:

Some of the chatter (On Anaheim) is that they’ll potentially be the high bidder for Mitch Marner, with an unheard-of average annual value north of the $14 million that the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl currently makes as the NHL’s highest-paid player.

But, according to league sources, there were also discussions around a Marner-to-Vegas transaction before the trade deadline this year, a move that would have involved the Hurricanes in a three-way deal. Theoretically, the Leafs would have received Mikko Rantanen while the Golden Knights got Marner and sent something to Carolina.

It’s unclear just how far those talks went, or if Marner was asked to waive his no-movement clause to go to Vegas, but it sounds like what killed the deal was Vegas and Carolina failing to find the right assets to include to get it done — not anything on the Toronto side. (The Hurricanes ended up landing Logan Stankoven, two first-round picks and two third-round picks from Dallas for Rantanen.)

June 8th

Mitchell Marner will be the biggest name on the free agent market come July 1st, but he may not make it to that date.

Unsurprisingly, his name has been swirling around Buffalo this week. One source close to the ground floor on the situation had this to say on Los Angeles being the front-runner, “That Marner to LA report is pure rubbish.”

While the west coast may not be leading the pack at this moment, perhaps the east coast is.

There’s real smoke that the Florida Panthers could be gearing up to make a run at Marner. Word is that Toronto has opened the door to a sign-and-trade scenario, where they ink Marner to a max-term extension (eight years) and then flip him to recoup some level of value.

The Leafs know that Marner is all but assured to leave. For the acquiring team, moving a draft pick to avoid a bidding war is a very palatable cost. Whether Marner is keen for that route is another thing. Would he sacrifice the eighth year to be able to be courted like a king and maximize his value on a seven-year deal?

Speaking of Utah, don’t be surprised if they take a healthy run at Marner if he gets to Free Agency.

June 2nd
  • On The Chris Johnston Show, Chris Johnston reported that the Carolina Hurricanes and the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to make some of the biggest offers to Mitch Marner in terms of salary.
  • On The Sheet with Jeff Marek, David Pagnotta suggests the Los Angeles Kings are high on Mitch Marner’s list of preferred destinations, ranked even higher than the Vegas Golden Knights. Pagnotta adds that the Kings are expected to be aggressive in their pursuit of the Leafs winger.
  • On Real Kyper & Bourne, Elliotte Friedman said regarding possible destinations for Mitch Marner: “If there is one team everyone is watching and saying ‘I’m really curious to see what they do,’ it is Utah. Teams believe that Utah is determined to introduce themselves to the NHL in a big way.”
  • In The Athletic, James Mirtle lists the Carolina Hurricanes, the Los Angeles Kings, the Utah Mammoth, and the Vegas Golden Knights as the most likely fits for Mitch Marner—taking into consideration teams’ roster needs, cap situations and likelihood of pursuing him, as well as Marner’s potential desired landing spots.
  • On the Chris Johnston Show, Chris Johnston said it wouldn’t surprise him at all if Carolina is a team in on Mitch Marner. He noted the situation could be different with Marner as a pending free agent, depending on the contract number.
May 30th
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights held trade discussions last summer centered around Mitch Marner. Vegas was interested in Marner, and Toronto was interested in acquiring Shea Theodore, but Vegas was not willing to include him. Additionally, there was no guarantee that Marner would waive his no-movement clause to facilitate the trade.
May 28th
  • On the FAN Morning Show, Frank Seravalli reports the Carolina Hurricanes were not the only possible destination for Mitch Marner at the trade deadline. The Leafs were working on other options in order to try and get their hands on Mikko Rantanen, but there just wasn’t the willingness to make it happen.
May 26th
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman says the Leafs want clarity on Marner—is he 100% testing the market come July 1?
May 21st
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman says the stars are aligning for Marner to walk (tough playoff loss, Marner taking the heat on social media).
May 20th
  • On TSN Overdrive, Chris Johnston says the door is mostly closed, if not fully closed, on Mitch Marner returning to the Leafs and that Marner has one foot out the door.
May 19th
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman says it could be very hard for the Leafs and Marner to see eye to eye on a deal unless one side really changes their bargaining position.
May 15th
  • On the JD Bunkis Show, James Mirtle insinuates that the Leafs won’t even want Marner back if it ends like this, following the Leafs’ 6-1 loss in Game 5.
  • Chris Johnston in The Athletic:

There is absolutely zero reason to believe that he’ll be signing another contract in Toronto on or before July 1 – not after refusing to negotiate an in-season extension with the Leafs or even considering a request from management to waive his no-movement clause at the trade deadline. Everything is lining up for him to walk free. There’s been a growing sense that the 28-year-old winger wants a fresh start after enduring an avalanche of criticism for his team’s repeated playoff shortcomings.

Morgan Rielly

July 15th
  • On The FAN Pregame, Nick Kypreos said he believes there have been conversations between the Leafs and Morgan Rielly’s camp about the possibility of him waiving his no-move clause. However, the feedback from Rielly’s side was that he is not willing to do so at this time, and he is expected to start the season with the Leafs—unless something changes dramatically.
  • In his latest Off-Season Trade Board at Sportsnet, Nick Kypreos included Morgan Rielly:

GM Brad Treliving is aiming to give his team a new look next season and change over part of the core. Given the blue line is in a good place and forward is where the Leafs have more questions and holes to fill, might they look to flip a blueliner for, ideally, a top-six scorer?

Morgan Rielly was on our last off-season trade board and remains here today. He has five years remaining on his contract and makes $7.5 million against the cap. However, he also has a full no-movement clause, so any trade would need his approval. If asked, would the 31-year-old Rielly be open to a fresh start?

 

July 10th
  • On Leafs Morning Take, David Pagnotta mentioned that he’s been led to believe there was a brief discussion with Morgan Rielly during exit meetings about his no-move clause, though he’s unsure where that conversation ultimately led.
June 19th
  • Nick Kypreos in the Toronto Star:

There is talk the Leafs may shoot for the moon and make offers to Panthers free agents Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad with hopes to land one or two of them. The key to an Ekblad offer will likely hinge on the Leafs’ ability to get out from under Morgan Rielly’s no-move clause.

June 16th

I have heard the talk in the fan base and media. But I don’t think he has any interest in leaving.

I’ve covered Rielly since draft day back in 2012, and a few things have stood out the whole way. He’s a proud person, someone who I believe is going to be really determined to have a better season next year. And he really does love Toronto and playing for this team. While not a local, I think he feels like a Torontonian now (and he’s married someone from Ontario and started a family). He’s not going to want to give up on being a Leaf and trying to help them have more success. That’s his DNA.

I understand why fans are frustrated with his season (and $7.5 million cap hit), but the deal he signed in 2021 has a full no-movement clause for another three years. Yes, other players with NMCs have been dealt by other organizations, and it’s not impossible to make that happen through tough conversations and brute force. At the moment, however, there’s no indication the Leafs are going down that path. If Rielly continues to struggle, I could see that being on the table down the line. (A buyout doesn’t really make sense to me, given he would be movable.)

June 2nd

Rielly is not on this list because anything is imminent or guaranteed to happen, but he is the logical first place the Leafs could look if they want to make deeper changes to the roster. The Leafs want to add another puck-moving, skating defenceman regardless of whether Rielly stays or goes. How high level of a defenceman they will add may depend on their ability to move Reilly’s contract.

I believe the team will, at some point, begin exploring their options on what to do with Rielly. His contract — five more years, $7.5 million AAV — is not as onerous as Matthews’ or William Nylander’s, which would be extremely complicated trades to pull off. Rielly, 31, does have a full no-movement clause and hasn’t made an indication he’s willing to waive, so there would need to be a mutual understanding that a change of scenery is in everybody’s best interests. I’d start with a team near his hometown like the Canucks.

May 29th
  • For TSN Hockey, Pierre LeBrun reported that there is “no chance” Morgan Rielly would waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a move to a different team, emphasizing that Rielly loves being a Maple Leaf.

Sam Bennett

June 19th
  • Nick Kypreos in the Toronto Star:

There is talk the Leafs may shoot for the moon and make offers to Panthers free agents Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad with hopes to land one or two of them. The key to an Ekblad offer will likely hinge on the Leafs’ ability to get out from under Morgan Rielly’s no-move clause.

June 16th

The one who almost certainly won’t be is Bennett, who is either going back to Florida or hitting a massive UFA home run with a team that has acres of cap space, such as Utah.

That’s just his personal choice, from what I’ve been hearing.

June 15th
  • Cam Robinson on X:

Lots of speculations that Sam Bennett re-signing in FLA is a foregone conclusions but I’m told the two sides haven’t talked extension in weeks.

Teams continue to prepare sizeable offers should he make it to July 1st. Appears his preference is to stay in USA.

June 13th
  • On NHL Network (June 12th), David Pagnotta reported Sam Bennett is pretty much locked in to stay in Florida, with a deal in the range of 8 years at $8 million per season currently under discussion.
June 12th
  • According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, it sounds like there has been progress on a contract extension between Sam Bennett and the Florida Panthers.
  • Pierre LeBrun for The Athletic (June 11th) says he still thinks Bennett probably re-signs in Florida.
June 10th
  • On the FAN Hockey Show, Elliotte Friedman suggested that the most likely scenario is Bennett staying in Florida. The rumour was that the Panthers didn’t want to go over Carter Verhaeghe’s AAV ($7 million), so both sides will need to find a compromise to get a deal done—especially the Panthers, holding firm on their end.
June 9th
  • On the JD Bunkis Show, James Mirtle said it’s more likely that Mitch Marner signs with the Florida Panthers than Sam Bennett signs with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Everyone at the combine was suggesting Bennett doesn’t want to come home to Toronto.
  • James Mirtle in The Athletic:

No one I spoke to around the league expects Sam Bennett to be available. He likes playing in Florida too much — and the feeling is mutual. 

June 7th
  • On OverDrive (June 6th), Darren Dreger said he’s been led to believe that Sam Bennett doesn’t have any interest in signing in Toronto.
June 6th
  • On First Up, Darren Dreger said he doesn’t foresee the Florida Panthers allowing Sam Bennett to walk in free agency.
June 4th
  • On Leafs Morning Take, Steve Simmons said he doesn’t get the sense that Sam Bennett will be leaving the Florida Panthers.
June 2nd
  • On Real Kyper & Bourne, Elliotte Friedman said that he believes, at the end of the day, Sam Bennett is likely to remain with the Florida Panthers.
  • On Daily Faceoff Live, Frank Seravalli suggested that Sam Bennett’s next contract is expected to be around seven years at $7.5 million AAV, and he doesn’t believe it’s anywhere close to the $10 million AAV a lot of people have been talking about or projecting.
May 29th
  • On Leafs Morning Take, John Shannon suggests there are people even within the Panthers organization who are concerned that Sam Bennett might have already made up his mind that something will happen with the Leafs, and they’re hoping that they can still convince Bennett to stay in Florida. 
May 27th
  • On the Sekeres and Price Show, John Shannon says Sam Bennett will only play in two places: Toronto or Florida. Shannon suggests it will be one of those two places; we just don’t know which one yet.

Nick Robertson

May 29th

Max Pacioretty

June 18th
  • On Daily Faceoff Live, Frank Seravalli suggested the Leafs as a potential destination for Corey Perry and posed the question: if you’re Toronto, who would you rather give $1 million to—Perry or Pacioretty?
June 11th
  • On the Leaf Report (June 10th), James Mirtle mentioned that Max Pacioretty is now more likely to return. His comments after the season appeared to be more of a family conversation than a firm decision. If he re-signs, it would likely be for under $1 million.
June 9th

One piece of good news over the past few days is that UFA Max Pacioretty is leaning toward a return after the Leafs expressed considerable interest in keeping him following a terrific postseason, according to a league source.

Andrew Mangiapane

June 29th
  • Nick Alberga on X:

With July 1 around the corner, I expect the Leafs to take a serious look at Andrew Mangiapane.

June 27th
  • On Real Kyper and Bourne, Nick Kypreos shared that Andrew Mangiapane is another player starting to be linked to Toronto.
June 21st
  • Nick Alberga on X:

As @thefourthperiod reported in his latest column, the Leafs are expected to pursue winger Andrew Mangiapane in free agency. Can confirm that Mangiapane, who played for Brad Treliving in Calgary, is on Toronto’s list of free agent targets.

I expect teams like the Maple Leafs and Kraken – and there will be others – to pursue Andrew Mangiapane once he hits the open market.

Other Notes

July 10th
  • On Leafs Morning Take, David Pagnotta said he hasn’t heard anything linking Erik Karlsson to the Maple Leafs.
  • James Mirtle in The Athletic:

….my sense is the front office is far from done.

It just might take a while for more things to get done.

July 8th
  • TheLeafsNation’s Nick Richard on X:

I’m not an insider by any means, but further to this report, I have also heard from a reliable source that the #LeafsForever are among the teams kicking tires on Dougie Hamilton in New Jersey.

No, I don’t know how the trade would work or how seriously the Devils are shopping Hamilton but I’ve been told the Leafs’ interest is legitimate.

 

July 7th

Forwards David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, Nick Robertson and Ryan Reaves are all believed to be available

  • On the Chris Johnston Show, Chris Johnston said the Leafs might not be able to fill their hole in the top six this summer, largely because they don’t have much to trade. He mentioned names like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Jared McCann as potentially available, but noted the Leafs may not be in a position—or have the desire—to pursue those players.
July 6th
  • Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast:
    • Three or four teams were in on Matias Maccelli, including Boston and Edmonton. Shane Doan believes Maccelli can become a very good player.
    • Friedman assumes that one of the players Toronto is trying to move is David Kämpf, and another could potentially be Calle Järnkrok.
    • He also wondered if the Leafs might be trying to trade a defenseman for a forward. This was rumored when they were weighing in on J.J. Peterka, a deal that ultimately didn’t happen, but he thinks it’s something the team has explored.
    • Friedman believes the Leafs will try to move some players out before bringing others in.
July 3rd
  • According to Nick Kypreos in the Toronto Star, the Leafs offered Brock Boeser a higher average annual value than Vancouver, but the Canucks countered with a longer-term deal.
June 30th
  • Chris Johnston on X:

With the free-agent market due to open in a little more than 24 hours, the Maple Leafs are exploring whether they can get something done with pending UFA Steven Lorentz to keep him in Toronto.

  • Pierre LeBrun on X:

Wouldn’t surprise me if the Maple Leafs are among the teams who show interest in Michael Pezzetta when the market opens Tuesday.

June 29th
  • Nick Alberga on X:

If he gets to July 1, it doesn’t sound like the Leafs would be a good match for Patrick Kane.

June 27th
  • On Real Kyper and Bourne, Nick Kypreos shared several Leafs-related updates. He noted that both Toronto and Vegas have their eyes on Rasmus Andersson. When discussing potential trades, Kypreos said Easton Cowan alone wouldn’t be enough to land Bowen Byram—it would need to be Cowan plus additional assets, and he questioned whether that kind of move makes sense. He also mentioned hearing Aaron Ekblad’s name tied to the Leafs.
June 26th
  • On Insider Trading, Darren Dreger reported that the Leafs are interested in Bowen Byram, although acquiring him is considered a long shot at this point.
  • On The DFO Rundown, Frank Seravalli mentioned that Aaron Ekblad could sign with a number of different teams, but specifically pointed to the Leafs and Blue Jackets as potential landing spots
June 23rd
  • On The Leaf Report, James Mirtle said that some teams view Max Domi as an interesting option, and with several teams lacking talent up front, there may be interest in adding a player like him—making it possible the Leafs could move him. Mirtle also noted that the Leafs are actively trying to trade David Kämpf and Calle Järnkrok, but so far haven’t had any success. He added that those moves may have to wait until after July 1st.
  • On the JD Bunkis Show, James Mirtle noted that the Leafs might need to be patient with their cap space, potentially waiting out the market in hopes of landing a value trade acquisition—similar to how Seattle landed Mason Marchment.
June 20th

The Maple Leafs wanted Mason Marchment, and were disappointed not to get him. Toronto wild-card: to replace Marner, could they move a defenceman to get a forward?

June 18th
  • On Daily Faceoff Live, Frank Seravalli mentioned the Leafs as a potential landing spot for Corey Perry. He posed the question: if you’re the Leafs, who would you rather give $1 million to—Perry or Max Pacioretty?
June 17th
  • On the Leaf Report, James Mirtle shared a few notes on the Leafs’ offseason approach. He doesn’t believe the team will pursue Nikolaj Ehlers, saying he doesn’t see a fit there. He mentioned Reilly Smith as a potential value option to play alongside Matthews and Knies, in the same way Edmonton found complementary players for Draisaitl. While the idea of targeting Aaron Ekblad has been floated, Mirtle isn’t sure the Leafs will seriously consider it. He gets the sense that the front office is aware of some issues on defense, but doesn’t view it as the top priority and would be surprised if they made major moves there. Instead, the Leafs seem hyper-focused on acquiring a center and improving the depth of their top nine forwards.
June 16th

What I’ve heard is he really wants to be in Toronto and hasn’t been looking elsewhere. At the combine in Buffalo earlier this month, he was the only AGM whom I saw front and center in the meetings with Treliving.

He’s a local guy who’s well compensated and valued in his role. I don’t get the sense he’s aggressively chasing a GM job at this point.

June 14th

There’s a chance that Drury has already worked it out with Zibanejad, who has five years at a $8.5 million average annual value remaining plus a full no-move clause, that moving on would be best. They’d still need to find a fit —the Leafs might have some interest and some space to fill — but trading Kreider’s BFF soon after dealing Kreider would produce the impact on cap flexibility and team culture Drury so badly wants.

June 13th

The qualities on the list should not come as a surprise, given that Leach was hired by Treliving. Size, especially in defencemen, is relatively high on Leach’s list of priorities.

There are four defencemen all over 6-foot-5 listed in a row from 39 to 42 on NHL Central Scouting’s final list of North American skaters. Those players could hypothetically be available when the Leafs are scheduled to make their first pick at the end of the second round.

“I would be shocked if it’s not a player like that,” said one NHL scout who knows Leach.

  • On NHL Network (June 12th), David Pagnotta said the Leafs had interest in Chris Kreider, but the Ducks stepped in first with a solid offer to the Rangers.
June 11th
  • On the Leaf Report (June 10th), James Mirtle noted that a trade for Brayden Schenn appears unlikely.
June 9th

The Leafs would also like to bring in a playmaker on D, but that feels more like a want than a must-have at this point, especially with seven NHL blueliners already signed.

June 5th
  • On the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman said he doesn’t believe the Leafs are considering buying out a forward anymore.
June 4th
  • On Leafs Morning Take, Steve Simmons said he thinks there’s a better chance the Leafs acquire a second-line center via trade rather than free agency—especially if Sam Bennett isn’t available, which he believes is the case.
June 2nd
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman said he believes Joe Sacco has been informed he will not remain as the Boston Bruins’ head coach. He speculated that Sacco could potentially join the Leafs to replace Lane Lambert as the Leafs’ penalty kill coach.
May 26th
  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman suggests we will start to see the Leafs get to their summer work this week.
May 21st

The Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment board of directors will meet Thursday as part of the organization’s end-of-season review.

Internally, the bar ownership had set for progress on this Leafs season was an appearance in the Eastern Conference final.

The way that series ended has left ownership disappointed and embarrassed.

In the event the organization decides to move on from him, the team will likely move forward without a team president for the foreseeable future.

Further complicating the path forward with Shanahan is the fact that the New York Islanders have expressed interest in speaking to him about their top hockey job.

While Shanahan’s future with the club is still being determined, there is a positive internal view on the job Treliving has done in his first two years as GM. He’s under contract beyond this season.

  • On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman says he thinks there could be a buyout of a depth forward. He also thinks Lane Lambert might get head coaching interviews. With the front office, he’s heard that with Rogers becoming the primary owner, there is some feeling that the front office will be streamlined. He thinks that will happen.
May 19th
  • On the Chris Johnston Show, Chris Johnston mentioned the Leafs might not blow their cap replacing Marner this summer on some of the top options, because there are other free agents next year who are worth waiting for.
  • On the JD Bunkis Show, James Mirtle says some decisions haven’t been made yet and that there’s more on the table than people think.