Just going to include the intro blurb and the list of players. They're listed from 10 to 1 but I didn't include the numbers because I don't feel like fighting with Reddit's formatting of lists.
We could have gone 25 deep with forwards who would fit well with the 2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs.
The free agent class this summer may be short on star power (as always). However, there are still a lot of useful players to be had. We wanted to narrow things down to 10, but could have swapped in any one of Matt Duchene, Jake DeBrusk, Sam Reinhart, Jake Guentzel, Anthony Duclair, Teuvo Teravainen, Michael Amadio, Joe Pavelski, Jonathan Marchessault, Teddy Blueger, William Carrier, Sean Monahan, Nick Cousins, Yakov Trenin, Jordan Martinook, Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, or Connor Brown.
Florida Panthers pest Ryan Lomberg would bring some energy and personality to the Leafs fourth line.
The Leafs’ biggest need up front is, arguably, a middle-six centre. They could also stand to bring in another top-six winger to replace or supplement Bertuzzi and/or Domi, both pending free agents, as well as more middle-six support on the wing, whether it’s more size to fit the style of new head coach Craig Berube or more scoring to help the stars up top.
A lot of what the Leafs might do in free agency will depend on what path is taken with Mitch Marner and John Tavares, the stars with no-movement clauses who may or may not be around next season.
Without further ado, the top 10.
David Perron
Position: Left and right wing
Evolving Hockey contract projection: One year, $2.4 million cap hit
Danton Heinen
Position: Left and right wing
Evolving Hockey contract projection: Four years, $3.6 million cap hit
Steven Stamkos
Position: Centre and left wing
Evolving Hockey contract projection: Three years, $8.4 million cap hit
Adam Henrique
Position: Centre and left wing
Evolving Hockey contract projection: Three years, $4.7 million cap hit
Viktor Arvidsson
Position: Left and right wing
Evolving Hockey contract projection: One year, $3 million
Alex Wennberg
Position: Centre
Evolving Hockey contract projection: Three years, $4.4 million cap hit
Chandler Stephenson
Position: Centre
Evolving Hockey contract projection: Four years, $6.1 million cap hit
Dakota Joshua
Position: Left wing
Evolving Hockey contract projection: Two years, $2 million cap hit
Tyler Toffoli
Position: Left and right wing
Evolving Hockey contract projection: Three years, $6.1 million cap hit
Elias Lindholm
Position: Centre and right wing
Evolving Hockey contract projection: Seven years, $7.9 million
by malliabu
25 Comments
No to all of them. Maybe Joshua, but he has to be coming in at a reasonable cap hit. Everyone else is going to be tough to fit in.
Obviously some decent names on this list but price tags are going to be high this July.
Realistically, guys like Joshua and/or Perron would be good fits imo.
Wishful thinking players would include Toffoli and Stephenson for me. Both guys are gamers.
Arvidsson at 3mx1 seems like good value. Secondary scoring has been an issue for us for a while
Perron, Joshua for the bottom six. Arvidsson and Toffoli for the top six. Those are ideal targets. That said, that would mean saying goodbye to Marner, Domi, Bertuzzi and likely Jarnkrok.
I think toffoli would be nice. If the leafs are smart they target the leftovers at forward. Target players on July 2nd or 3rd. I think they should be a bit more aggressive and try to get either tanev skjei or roy on defense.
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These contract predictions feel low to me. Or at least not adjusted for the fact that we’ve had a flat cap for years, and now its finally expected to grow each year for the next several years. I’d love Lindholm at that price, but I’d bet he gets more. Same with Stephenson and Arvidsson
Stamkos on a team with Tavares would have gotten me so excited like a decade ago
I’ve wanted Toffoli on the Leafs since he was a King. It’s time to bring him home. Would actually be hilarious to have both Heinen and Debrusk too. Those dudes muck the Leafs in the playoffs.
How is this going to matter? This is basically the same approach that the Leafs have been taking for years now. Bring in some spare parts to augment the core. They do their jobs. Core pussies out in playoffs. Time to golf.
There is nobody on that list save Stamkos who’s going to really move the needle, IMO. This is a team that’s desperate for a culture change, and you’re not getting it from bringing in some complementary pieces. Or from a new coach, as tough as Berube may be on these guys.
We don’t need Stamkos, Toffoli, or Lindholm. We’re not lacking offensive talent. We’re lacking tenacity
I think all of these guys would help the team out a lot. But at the end of the day if the core doesn’t change it’s gonna be a repeat of the last 8 years of the playoffs
I like most of these. Don’t think I want Stammer or Stephenson
in what universe is Wenberg worth that?
Personally, you sign as many UFA’s that are willing to entertain great team-friendly deals. Stamkos 3 years 8.4m would be unreal (80-90 points guy/free asset) trade alternative assets for more effective players.
Why does my brain go into thinking that Dubas is going to sign Guentzel on July 1 and look like a genius. Ugh.
Lindholm? 😂 💀
The Lindholm and Stephenson contracts will age like milk.
Add 20% to all of these projections for the Leafs.
We need puck moving defensemen.
Its wild these are the suggestions when our biggest issue last year was getting the puck out from behind the net and beating the trap, none of these guys solve that problem.
I’d love to see Dakota in a leafs uniform. That guy is a hooligan out there and he was pretty clutch for Van in some big moments.
Can’t afford any of these guys.
I really like Jake Guentzel he may not be the cheapest but he s a guy who shows up in the spring and play as a star when it matters.
Goalie
#1 D man.
Carry on.
I like Henrique for 3rd line centre. Although I’d rather go for defenders and a goalie and see what the kids can do rather than spending more money on forwards.