The dust has barely settled on the Maple Leafs securing cornerstone pieces Matthew Knies (6x$7.75M) and John Tavares (4x$4.38M), but Brad Treliving isn’t pulling up the anchor just yet. With roughly $13.5 million in cap space (and the ghost of Mitch Marner whispering through trade winds), the Leafs are armed to go shopping — or pillaging — in free agency.

We’re talking about the rarest Leafs summer in recent memory: stability at the top, flexibility in the middle, and a real shot to build out a Cup-caliber roster.

Let’s take a look at the big fish rumored to be on the hook — and what they bring to the ol’ blue-and-white.

Brad Marchand – The Villain Becomes the Hero?

2024–25 Stats: 71 GP – 23 G – 28 A – 51 PTS
Playoffs: 23 GP – 10 G – 10 A – 20 PTS
Projected Deal: 2 years, ~$5M AAV

What a twist this’d be. Imagine the man who tormented Leafs Nation for a decade now throwing elbows for them. Wild.

Marchand still has bite and playoff legs, and while 37 isn’t exactly spry, he posted 20 points en route to a Cup win with Florida this spring. He’d instantly add the kind of “refuse to lose” edge this locker room has long lacked.

Fit Check: Top-six winger, can moonlight on PP1, kills penalties, and leads by chaos. With Marner out? This fills both a skill and snarl void. You’d hate to cheer for him… until you loved it.

Maritime Note: Nova Scotia boy, so maybe playing in Canada again gives him that extra Maritime mojo.

Andrew Mangiapane – The Speedy Sleeper

2024–25 Stats: 81 GP – 14 G – 14 A – 28 PTS
Projected Deal: 2–3 years, ~$4M AAV

Not flashy, but functional. Mangiapane’s 28 points may not pop, but his expected goals and forechecking metrics stayed strong. This is a player who works hard in the dirty areas, and who Treliving knows from Calgary.

He won’t drive a line, but he’ll elevate others — and he’s versatile enough to slot in anywhere from line two to four.

Fit Check: Ideal in a bottom-six that was too passive last year. Pair him with Kampf and McMann, and that’s a buzzsaw of a third line.

Bonus: He kills penalties and drives play at 5v5 — two Leafs weaknesses in recent playoff exits.

Aaron Ekblad – The Rielly Whisperer?

2024–25 Stats: 56 GP – 3 G – 30 A – 33 PTS, +11
Projected Deal: 6 years, $7.5–8M AAV

If the Leafs go big-game hunting on defense, Ekblad is the white whale. The former Calder winner has battled through injuries but remains a high-end puck mover and shutdown option.

He logged 23+ minutes a night and was a top pair fixture on a Panthers team that just sipped from the Cup.

Fit Check: Would slot perfectly with Morgan Rielly or form a shutdown duo with Tanev. Suddenly, Toronto’s blue line would look… scary good.

Cap Reality: Would likely require a Marner trade to make room, but if you’re going to ship out a core piece, bringing in a stud like Ekblad justifies it.

Nikolaj Ehlers – The Speed Demon

2024–25 Stats: 69 GP – 24 G – 39 A – 63 PTS
Playoffs: 8 GP – 5 G – 2 A – 7 PTS
Projected Deal: 4–5 years, $6.5–7M AAV

If Mitch Marner gets moved (as many expect), Ehlers is a near-perfect replacement. A top-line caliber winger with blazing speed, slick hands, and underrated edge to his game.

In Winnipeg, he’s often been under-utilized. In Toronto? He’d explode playing with Matthews or Tavares.

Fit Check: Seamlessly replaces Marner’s offense (not all of it, but takes a run at it), adds more rush threat, and can drive a line. He’s also a primary assist machine — a sneaky boon for Matthews’ Rocket campaigns.

Hot Maritime Take: Ehlers has “Breakout Year in Toronto” written all over him if he escapes Peg City.

Vladislav Gavrikov – The Defensive Anchor

2024–25 Stats: 82 GP – 5 G – 25 A – 30 PTS, +26
TOI: 23:05 ATOI
Projected Deal: 3–4 years, $4.5–5M AAV

You want playoff hockey? You need a guy like Gavrikov. He blocks shots, kills penalties, and wins board battles with a mean streak. He’s exactly the type of defender the Leafs lacked when Florida came crashing through in ‘23.

He won’t score much, but that’s not what he’s for.

Fit Check: A perfect second-pair D-man who stabilizes the backend and eats hard minutes. A better, younger version of the 2023-24 Joel Edmundson.

Brock Boeser – The (Other) Right Wing Sniper

2024–25 Stats: 82 GP – 33 G – 36 A – 69 PTS
Playoffs: 13 GP – 5 G – 5 A – 10 PTS
Projected Deal: 3–4 years, ~$6.25–6.75M AAV (if UFA) / Trade Target if extended

Now here’s a name Leafs fans should be watching like a hawk. Boeser is all but done in Vancouver, with cap crunches on the west coast and the Canucks extending other core pieces, there’s real chatter he could be available either via trade or sign-and-trade if he doesn’t re-up July 1, otherwise he will hit the open market.

Boeser had a mediocre year last year in Vancouver, but everyone was uninspired it seems with the Canucks, look for him to bounce back this year.

Fit Check:

• Natural right winger with a lethal release — could slot next to Matthews if Marner is moved.
• Works well in the half-wall on the power play, giving Keefe options to mix up PP1/PP2.
• Unlike Marner, he’s a shoot-first guy. Toronto’s needed more of that since Kessel left town.
• Would ease the burden on Nylander and spread out the scoring threat.

Why Toronto Makes Sense:

• The Leafs have the cap space and prospects to swing a deal if Vancouver hesitates.
• His salary aligns well with Marner trade math.
• Quiet, reserved player — won’t rock the room, but lets his game do the talking.

Caution:

• He’s not as fast as Ehlers or as mean as Marchand. But as a pure sniper? He’s right there with them.

Hot Take from the Harbour:

If Toronto nabs Ehlers and Gavrikov while flipping Marner for futures, they’ll roll into 2025–26 with the deepest, most balanced roster of the Matthews era and a fighting chance at a real playoff run.

And if they somehow snag Marchand for a cheeky reunion tour? Oh boy.