The Toronto Maple Leafs face a potentially transformative offseason in 2025, with the likely departure of Mitch Marner looming large. After another disappointing playoff exit, General Manager Brad Treliving has signaled a desire to reshape the team's identity, prioritizing grit, leadership, and playoff experience. With Marner seemingly headed for free agency and a possible move to the Western Conference, the Leafs must navigate a changing landscape and re-tool their roster to remain competitive.
The projected NHL salary cap for the 2025-26 season is $95.5 million. The Leafs have approximately $25.71 million in cap space, based on 17 players currently under contract. This figure accounts for performance bonus overages and a potential burial hit for Matt Benning. While the defense and goaltending are largely set, the focus will be on revamping the forward group.
Auston Matthews and William Nylander remain the cornerstones of the Leafs' offense, with their contracts extending through 2028 and 2032, respectively. However, beyond these two stars, the forward depth needs improvement. Max Domi and David Kampf are signed for the next few seasons, but their roles and contributions need to be optimized. Several pending UFAs, including John Tavares, further complicate the roster construction.
Several free agent options have been linked to the Maple Leafs as potential replacements for Marner. Sam Bennett, known for his grit and playoff performance, has been mentioned as a prime target to bolster the team's center depth. Matt Duchene, another Ontario native, could add scoring to the second or third line. Even Jonathan Toews, aiming for a comeback, could provide leadership and experience on a league-minimum deal. However, recent reports suggest the Leafs may not be pursuing Bennett aggressively.
Other potential free agent targets include Brad Marchand and Nikolaj Ehlers. Marchand, despite his history as a Leafs' antagonist, could bring much-needed grit and scoring. Ehlers, with his playmaking ability, could help offset the loss of Marner's offensive output. However, acquiring these players would require significant cap space and a willingness to pay a premium.
The Leafs also have internal options to consider. Matthew Knies is expected to take on a larger role and contribute more offensively. Easton Cowan, a promising prospect, could also make the jump to the NHL and provide a spark. Nicolas Robertson and Pontus Holmberg are pending RFAs who could factor into the team's plans.
The Leafs' defensive core is largely set, with Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe, Christopher Tanev, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson under contract. Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz provide a solid goaltending tandem. However, the team may explore options to add a puck-moving right-handed defenseman to further solidify the blue line.
As Treliving aims to reshape the Maple Leafs' identity, expect a focus on acquiring players who bring a different mix of skill, grit, and leadership. The team may target players who can excel in playoff situations and provide a more balanced offensive attack. With Marner's departure seemingly inevitable, the Leafs' 2025-26 roster will likely look significantly different from previous years, marking the beginning of a new era in Toronto.
