The Toronto Maple Leafs have parted ways with one of their core players, Mitch Marner, who is headed to the Vegas Golden Knights through a sign-and-trade deal. With Marner’s departure leaving a significant void—he consistently tallies around 100 points per season, plays dependable defense, and contributes across all special teams—the Leafs are in urgent need of finding replacements. While no single player can match all of Marner’s contributions, Toronto can mitigate the loss through a combination of internal talent and moves in the trade and free-agent markets.
One key player already on the roster is Matthew Nees, who is signed with the Leafs for the next six years. At 22, Nees had a breakout season with 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games and is seen as someone who could reach the 40-goal mark. However, while Nees can elevate his game, he alone can’t fully replace Marner’s impact.
Other potential additions include players from the Western Conference who might be traded before the 2025-26 season, making Toronto a prime destination. For example, Robertson is a highly intriguing option; despite his $7.75 million cap hit, he has scored over 110 goals in the past three seasons and twice netted 40 goals. His offensive skill and youth (only 25) make him a rare and valuable asset.
Another candidate is Necas from the Colorado Avalanche, who recently joined them and showed strong chemistry with Nathan MacKinnon. If negotiations falter with Colorado, Necas could slide into Toronto’s lineup alongside Auston Matthews, potentially forming a lethal scoring duo.
On the free-agent front, Ehlers stands out as a top name, bringing elite speed and offensive IQ. Although often underutilized, he managed to score over 60 points in the last two seasons under limited ice time. His presence could be a major asset next to Leafs stars like Matthews, Nees, and Nylander.
Finally, Boeser offers a goal-scoring boost, consistently netting 20 goals per season and peaking at 40 goals in 2023-24. While he may lack Marner’s playmaking abilities, his scoring proficiency could help soften the blow of Marner’s exit. Pairing Boeser with Matthews could create a dynamic scoring threat, though Boeser might command a salary over his typical production value.
In summary, the Maple Leafs face a challenging but manageable task in filling Marner’s shoes, relying on a mixture of internal growth and strategic acquisitions in trades and free agency to keep the team competitive.
Fan Take: This shake-up is significant for hockey fans, as it shakes the foundation of a top NHL team and sets the stage for an intriguing rebuilding or retooling process. How Toronto manages to replace Marner could influence the league’s competitive balance and showcases the evolving strategies teams use to stay competitive in a salary-cap world.
