The Toronto Maple Leafs have made some significant changes to their roster, but Toronto could still look to make some minor moves.
Toronto could look to shake up the bottom-six forward and make some changes to the lineup. NHL analyst Rupert McDonald of The Hockey Writers links the Maple Leafs to signing veteran depth forward Craig Smith.
“If the Maple Leafs are looking to replace a veteran in Pacioretty with another older leader, Craig Smith is perhaps worth considering,” McDonald wrote. “The 35-year-old struggled immensely with the Detroit Red Wings to close out the 2024-25 season but was solid in his 40 games prior with the Chicago Blackhawks, recording nine goals and 16 points.
“Smith isn’t the same player he was during the prime of his career, but can still provide some secondary offence,” McDonald added. “His point totals don’t jump off the page in recent years, but he continues to be effective at creating scoring chances, getting rush shots, and perhaps most importantly, forechecking. Smith’s age and struggles with the Red Wings suggest he’d be lucky to get anything more than a league-minimum deal at this point in his career.”
Smith would be a bottom-six forward who is a veteran who can come in and be a leader on and off the ice. He has skated in 987 career games, recording 220 goals and 232 assists for 452 points.
Smith is coming off a one-year, $1 million deal and likely would sign for something similar this season.
What Would Smith Bring to the Maple Leafs Lineup?
If Toronto does sign Smith, he could be the third or fourth-line center.
With the Maple Leafs rumored to be looking to trade David Kampf and/or Calle Jarnkrok, Smith could replace them and be cheaper.
The 35-year-old still can score, which is an area of need for the Maple Leafs. Although many fans would want Toronto to add a top-six winger, adding Smith raises the floor.
Smith is a veteran who knows what it takes to get into the playoffs and how to play to win. The centerman recorded 9 goals and 9 assists for 18 points in 59 games. Smith has been good for 10+ goals and 25-30 points a season, which would be good from the third or fourth line for the Maple Leafs.
Maple Leafs Given Low Grade for Offseason
Although signing Smith wouldn’t be a major move, it would help out the NHL roster.
The Maple Leafs saw Mitch Marner leave and saw Pontus Holmberg sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Toronto did add Nic Roy in the Marner trade, and also traded for Mattias Maccelli.
Yet, ESPN gave the Maple Leafs a C+ grade for their offseason moves.
“There are no two ways about it; the Maple Leafs are a worse team without Marner. The silver lining is that GM Brad Treliving was able to get something for his departing free agent in a sign-and-trade with Vegas for depth forward Roy,” the article read. “Treliving carried on adding third- and fourth-line skaters in Maccelli and Pezzetta. Now, any of those three could prove to be valuable assets. But they don’t remotely replace what Toronto lost in Marner. What can you do?
“Well, Treliving shouldn’t have stopped making moves. Another scoring winger with potential to contribute in the top six would be huge, and the Leafs also could use help on the back end,” the article continued. “Getting extensions done for John Tavares and Matthew Knies was undoubtedly important (and bumped up the Leafs’ grade here) but how Toronto gets over the loss of Marner will be enormous in how next season plays out.”
The Maple Leafs open their 2025-26 NHL season on Oct. 8 at home against the Montreal Canadiens.
Maple Leafs Linked to Signing 987-Game Veteran Forward