The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the free agency period with a clear need to bolster their forward ranks, especially after trading Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights. A prime target to fill that void was Andrew Mangiapane, a Toronto native who had the potential to slot into the top nine. However, Mangiapane ultimately signed a two-year, $7.2 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers, leaving the Maple Leafs to pivot their strategy.
Reports indicate that the Maple Leafs were quite interested in Mangiapane, with some believing he was headed to Toronto. Chris Johnston of TSN noted that the Leafs had definite interest and that some teams thought Mangiapane was going to sign with Toronto. Despite Toronto's efforts, the Oilers managed to secure his services. It's believed that Mangiapane was hesitant about playing in his hometown market, and the opportunity to play for a Stanley Cup contender in Edmonton also played a significant role in his decision.
Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving is now tasked with exploring alternative options to fill the winger position. The departure of Marner, who was a key contributor to the team's offense, creates a significant void that needs to be addressed. Treliving has acknowledged the need to improve the team's competitiveness and add skill and talent.
With Mangiapane no longer an option, the Maple Leafs will likely turn their attention to other available free agents and potential trade targets. Several players could be on the Leafs' radar as they seek to add depth and scoring to their forward group. Some potential UFA targets that could be a fit include Nick Bjugstad, Connor Brown, Mikael Granlund, or Pius Suter. Other options could include Brandon Tanev, Michael Eyssimont, or Anthony Beauvillier. Sam Bennett and Nikolaj Ehlers were also identified as potential targets. Viktor Olofsson has also been mentioned as a potential target.
The Maple Leafs have already made some moves to reshape their roster, including signing Matthew Knies and John Tavares to team-friendly extensions. These deals provide some financial flexibility to pursue other additions. The team also acquired Nicolas Roy in the trade that sent Mitch Marner to Vegas.
As the Maple Leafs move forward, they will need to carefully evaluate their options and identify players who can complement their existing core. The team has approximately $10.1 million in salary cap space to work with. Treliving has expressed a desire to add players with competitiveness and skill. The coming weeks will be crucial as the Maple Leafs look to finalize their roster for the 2025-26 season and aim to contend in a competitive Atlantic Division.
