The core group of players in Toronto has changed. Mitch Marner has been traded to the Vegas Golden Knights as part of a sign-and-trade deal, and the Maple Leafs face an urgent need to find players who can compensate for his absence.
Naturally, replacing a player like Marner is a significant challenge. He was a consistent 100-point scorer each season, played strong defensive hockey, and was impactful on all special teams units. While the Leafs won`t find a single player who possesses all these attributes, they can explore options to mitigate the loss of his production.
One part of the solution is already within the team`s roster, locked in for the next six years. Matthew Knies has the potential for significant growth, but he alone cannot fully replace Marner`s contribution. Fortunately for Toronto, several potential solutions exist in both the trade market and among free agents.
Two dynamic young forwards in the Western Conference could potentially be available before the 2025-26 season, and either would be a fantastic fit for the Maple Leafs. Additionally, free agency, beginning Tuesday at noon ET, presents a few more players Toronto should consider targeting.
Let`s delve deeper into how the Maple Leafs might go about replacing the production lost with Marner`s departure.Matthew Knies, LW, Maple Leafs
Regardless of other moves the Maple Leafs make to replace Marner`s output, Matthew Knies`s continued development is absolutely crucial. Marner leaves behind a hole equivalent to a 100-point player in Toronto`s lineup, meaning multiple players will need to increase their contributions. Knies is expected to be one of them.
As a 22-year-old, Knies had a breakout year, scoring 29 goals and adding 29 assists in 78 games. He is clearly trending upwards in his career, and there are strong reasons to believe he could reach the 40-goal mark in the coming seasons. This potential is clearly what the Leafs are betting on, having just signed him to a six-year contract worth $7.75 million per season. The question is whether Knies can maintain his trajectory if asked to step into a significantly larger role.
Jason Robertson, LW, Dallas Stars
Jason Robertson represents perhaps the most intriguing potential trade target for the Maple Leafs. The Dallas Stars are currently less than a million dollars below the salary cap limit and only have 10 forwards signed, which suggests they are facing difficult financial decisions. This situation, combined with Robertson`s $7.75 million cap hit and the fact he will need a new contract next summer, means he could potentially be traded.
Over the past three seasons, only 15 NHL players have scored more goals than Robertson`s 110. He is a potent offensive force, capable of generating scoring chances off the rush. A major selling point is that Robertson has already achieved two 40-goal seasons, and he is only 25 years old. Players of this caliber in the prime of their careers are rarely available. If Robertson is genuinely on the market, Toronto`s General Manager should be in constant contact with Stars GM Jim Nill.
Martin Necas, RW, Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche recently acquired Martin Necas mid-way through last season, but he is now entering the final year of his contract. Avalanche GM Joe Sakic has shown a willingness to trade key players if contract negotiations hit an impasse. If Colorado believes they cannot sign Necas to a long-term deal that might approach $10 million per year, the skilled winger could find himself on the move again.
Should Necas become available via trade, Toronto would be an excellent fit. After joining Colorado, Necas played effectively alongside Nathan MacKinnon, putting up 11 goals and 17 assists in 30 games and contributing to strong five-on-five play. With the Maple Leafs, Necas`s playmaking ability could make him a perfect linemate for Auston Matthews, potentially creating a highly dangerous offensive combination given Matthews`s exceptional shooting talent.
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW
Nikolaj Ehlers is arguably one of the more under-utilized forwards in the league and is one of the top names entering free agency. His remarkable speed and offensive intelligence make him a very appealing option for the Maple Leafs following Marner`s departure.
In each of the last three seasons, Ehlers has played surprisingly limited minutes, averaging less than 16 minutes per game. Despite this restricted usage, he still managed to exceed 60 points in each of the last two seasons, demonstrating a remarkably high rate of production when he is on the ice. This level of skill should be very attractive to Toronto, especially alongside established forwards like Matthews, Knies, and William Nylander. Ehlers`s production could potentially skyrocket in a Leafs uniform if given a larger role.
Brock Boeser, RW
While Brock Boeser may not possess the same elite playmaking abilities as Mitch Marner or others on this list, he is a reliable source of goals. He has maintained at least a 20-goal pace in all of his full NHL seasons and reached the 40-goal mark in 2023-24. This scoring capability would help significantly offset the goals lost with Marner`s trade.
Boeser is known for being a streaky scorer, but when he is hot, he can score in bunches. In the season where he scored 40 goals in 81 games, he seemed to stay hot for an extended period. The idea of pairing Boeser`s strong shot with Auston Matthews`s incredible scoring ability is an exciting prospect. Like many free agents, Boeser might command a contract value higher than some evaluate his total production, but the Maple Leafs clearly need to add another forward capable of playing in their top six.
Elton Marrow