The Toronto Maple Leafs will be a team to watch when free agency opens up on July 1.
The Maple Leafs already re-signed John Tavares and Matthew Knies, as their heavy-lifting is mostly done. However, Toronto will still look to sign impact players to help replace Mitch Marner, who is likely to leave in free agency.
Ahead of free agency, Toronto has been linked to signing Brad Marchand. Yet, NHL analyst Edward Eng of EditorinLeaf urges the Maple Leafs to avoid signing the gritty forward.
“There’s no questioning in the drive, heart, and determination whenever Brad Marchand plays the game. Hockey and winning is purely in his DNA, and he is coming off a Stanley Cup win with the Florida Panthers just this past season,” Eng wrote. “With 20 points in 23 playoff games, it is exactly the postseason performer that the Leafs desperately need. However, Marchand is already 37 and has seen his stats on the decline during his previous couple of seasons as he has gone from more than a point-per-game player back in 2021-22 now down to just a 0.72 ppg player this past year…
“What the Leafs need is to address the potential loss of Mitch Marner plus strengthen their bottom six,” Eng added. “So as much as everyone wants the move to happen, by blowing the bulk of their resources on a player that could also suddenly see their production fall off a cliff in a multi-year deal, it sure isn’t the wisest thing to do at this point.”
With Marchand likely to get a hefty contract, Eng doesn’t think Toronto would be wise to hand Marchand a three or four-year deal at $8 million per season.
Marchand recorded 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 23 playoff games with the Panthers.
Insider Claims Maple Leafs Will Sign Marchand
Although Eng doesn’t think Toronto should sign Marchand, one insider expects it to happen.
NHL insider Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet reported that all signs point to Marchand signing with the Maple Leafs in free agency.
“He’s the first one to say ‘I was underpaid in Boston, and I’m going to go out there and make it up right now.’ There’s no team on the planet right now that can satisfy the lost income he had probably on the last 3-4 years of his Boston Bruins deal, than the Toronto Maple Leafs. I don’t know how he doesn’t end up as a Maple Leaf, let me put it to you that way,” Kypreos said of Marchand.
Marchand completed his eight-year, $49 million deal. AFP Analytics project Marchand to sign a two-year deal worth $5.1 million per season, but reports indicate he could get upwards of $8 million per season.
Maple Leafs Extend Knies
Toronto did sign Knies, a pending RFA, to an extension.
Knies could have been at the center of offer sheets, but on June 29, he signed a six-year deal worth $7.75 million per season.
Knies was a star player for the Maple Leafs last season as he played on the top line and can be one of the NHL’s best power forwards if he continues to develop.
The American winger recorded 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 points in 78 games.
Analyst Urges Maple Leafs to Avoid Signing $49M Star Forward