The Toronto Maple Leafs first week of the 2025 NHL free agency frenzy has been relatively quiet. Besides losing their second best player, there really haven’t been many head lines coming out of Scotiabank. For this reason, The Athletic’s NHL analyst Jonas Siegel gives the Leafs an offseason grade of a C.
“It’s difficult to fully grade even the early offseason because the Leafs have clearly gotten worse in the wake of Mitch Marner’s departure, with no major additions as of yet and the same look on defense,” Siegel writes. “At this point, it’s Marner, Pontus Holmberg and Max Pacioretty (for now) out and Nicolas Roy, Matias Maccelli and Michael Pezzetta in.”
The grade is as high as it is because, despite letting Marner walk, Toronto has done a good job of retaining their talent. They locked John Taveres up for four more years and Siegel believes they are one trade away from being back in contention.
“Roy and Maccelli both could be shrewd additions, but that’s still a significant downgrade in talent,” Siegel concludes. “The Leafs did well on the Matthew Knies and John Tavares contract extensions and a sharp trade for a top-six forward could push this grade higher.”
Two Potential Top Six Wings Remaining
According to dailyfaceoff.com, the Leafs potential second line unit reads Bobby McMann- John Tavares- William Nylander. The obvious weak link being Bobby McMann, who will be entering his fourth season with the team.
Of the forwards who have survived week one of free agency, I believe there are two who could compete with McMann for this final spot in the second line.
The first is Jeff Skinner. The league seems to be okay with writing off the 33-year-old skater but at the end of the day, Skinner has nearly 400 goals scored and a 700 point career. The veteran has a knack for putting pucks in the back of the net and that is not a skill commonly found. Last season was easily the least productive season of his career, but even so he finished with just five less points than McMann.
The next, and better option, is going back to Las Vegas and stealing a wing of their own. Victor Oloffson has fallen between the cracks as the Knights made room to pay Marner’s $100 million contract. The 29-year-old winger is almost guaranteed to post a 20 goal season anytime he is healthy. Best of all, he’s cheap. He completed his last contract at a pinch over $1 million a year. I think he is going to be one of the best bargain signings from this class.
Pavel Zacha Trade Rumors
Siegel said if Toronto wants to find a top six forward, they might have to do it through the trading block. If that is the case, the division rival Boston Bruins might have an interesting offer.
It is rumored that Boston is shopping their second line wing/center, Pavel Zacha. Zacha averages 50 points a year, every year since arriving in Boston and would represent an immediate upgrade for the Maple Leafs.
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