The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2025 offseason featured vital roster adjustments, together with the departure of star winger Mitch Marner, because the crew aimed to retool its lineup with added depth.

They acquired forwards Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Matias Maccelli to bolster their roster. The Leafs additionally secured key extensions, signing Matthew Knies to a six-year contract with a $7.75M AAV, John Tavares to a four-year deal at $4.3 million AAV, and Steven Lorentz to a three-year contract at $1.35M AAV.

Despite these strikes, the crew nonetheless has a noticeable hole in its top-six ahead group. NHL analyst Shayna Goldman of The Athletic rated her concern for the Toronto Maple Leafs at 8/10 in her newest article.

She recognized two major points that hindered the crew final season: their star gamers underperformed in the playoffs, and the underside six lacked adequate assist. The additions of new faces tackle some of these considerations.

If the Maple Leafs can maximize the potential of these three gamers, who every confronted challenges final season, it may resolve the bottom-six concern. Nevertheless, the top six nonetheless has a vital hole with Mitch Marner’s departure.

“However there’s nonetheless a Mitch Marner-sized hole in the top six. As flawed as his Maple Leafs tenure was, and although his regular-season caliber didn’t translate to a postseason surroundings constantly sufficient, he was nonetheless succesful of placing up 100 factors in the common season. And there have been some glimpses of that star potential in the playoffs,” she wrote.

“For a crew going through the strain to lastly go on a deep run, the offseason feels incomplete with that obvious hole in the top six.”

Following Mitch Marner’s commerce to the Golden Knights, the crew has been trying to fill the hole left in their top-six ahead group. GM Brad Traliving has indicated that the top six is a precedence, with the crew reportedly exploring commerce choices and free brokers to bolster their lineup.

Who may change Mitch Marner as Auston Matthews’ new linemate on Maple Leafs?

NHL analyst Mark Masters prompt Max Domi as a perfect substitute for Mitch Marner to play alongside Auston Matthews. Talking on TSN, Masters famous that Domi and Matthews have good chemistry.

He acknowledged some hesitation, suggesting there may be reluctance to position both William Nylander or Domi in that position. Masters added that there is no such thing as a excellent answer or participant to fill that spot presently.

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“I might put (Max) Domi there,” Masters mentioned. “He and Matthews work properly. I am certain there’s some reluctance, proper?” “Perhaps you do not need Nylander there. Perhaps you do not need Domi there, of course,” Masters mentioned. “However there isn’t any excellent reply to the query proper now. There isn’t any excellent participant to fit in there.”

Mitch Marner departed the Toronto Maple Leafs after spending 9 seasons with the membership. The 2-time NHL All-Star winger notched 741 profession factors by 221 targets and 520 assists.

Additionally Learn: Maple Leafs’ $46.5M star leaves little question about ‘rivalry’ speak with Mitch Marner’s Golden Knights