MUST READ: 3 Key Moves for Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving This Offseason

Since the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs by David Pastrnak, the team’s leadership has stated that they are open to making significant changes to improve their performance. The first step in this process was the firing of head coach Sheldon Keefe and the hiring of former Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube. However, this move alone is unlikely to be enough to solve the team’s playoff struggles.

Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving still has several key tasks to complete before the start of the next season. The first priority is to address the contract situations of key players Mitch Marner and John Tavares.

There is currently no definitive information on the contract situations of Mitch Marner and John Tavares with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Rumors regarding Marner’s future are speculative, with conflicting reports about whether he has waived his no-movement clause or wants to leave Toronto.

The Leafs have not made any official statements on the matter. Without direct comments from Marner, Tavares, or the team, it is impossible to know their true intentions. The Leafs will likely have to wait until Marner makes his plans known before determining how to proceed. Until then, any reports about their contract statuses should be considered unconfirmed.

If Mitch Marner wants to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the team wants to keep him, his next contract will likely fall within a specific range. He will not exceed Auston Matthews’ $13.35 million cap hit, and he is unlikely to accept less than William Nylander’s $11.5 million. This leaves a $1.75 million gap in his potential salary if he stays with the Leafs.

However, if Marner becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer and enters a bidding war with other teams, he could potentially command a contract similar to Matthews’ deal. But if he re-signs with the Maple Leafs, his salary will not reach that level.

John Tavares has publicly stated his desire to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite a 20% decrease in his point production this past season, at age 33, he could potentially receive a lucrative short-term contract offer as a UFA next summer.

The only way for the Leafs to retain Tavares beyond this season is if he is willing to accept a significant pay cut of nearly 50% from his current $11 million deal. A potential salary in the range of $6 million has been suggested. The length of the contract would then be a matter of negotiation.

Let Marner and Tavares Play out the Upcoming Season as Rentals.

You make a fair point. Even if the Maple Leafs are unable to trade Mitch Marner or John Tavares before they become unrestricted free agents, the team would still gain a valuable asset – significant salary cap space. If Marner and Tavares both depart as UFAs in 2025, the Leafs would free up a combined $22 million in cap space.

This cap flexibility could be crucial for the team to retool and build a more balanced roster around their core players like Auston Matthews. While trading expiring assets is preferable, the Leafs would still benefit from the cap relief gained by letting Marner and Tavares walk in free agency if necessary.

Keeping Mitch Marner and John Tavares on the Maple Leafs as rentals for one more season could give the team another chance to succeed with the current core, now under the guidance of new head coach Craig Berube.

It is possible that the change in coaching could have a positive impact on the players, particularly the more experienced trio of Auston Matthews, Marner, and William Nylander, who have only played under Sheldon Keefe. A fresh perspective and approach from Berube might help the group reach new heights in their careers.

Convince Them to Waive Their No-Move Clauses.

If rumors are true that Mitch Marner has waived his no-move clause, it is unclear. However, if he hasn’t, the Maple Leafs could potentially play hardball with Marner and John Tavares, informing them that they are not part of their future plans.

In such a scenario, it is unlikely that either player would willingly stay with the team if they are told they are not wanted. This would create an uncomfortable situation for all parties involved.

If Mitch Marner and John Tavares were willing to waive their no-move clauses, the Toronto Maple Leafs could potentially trade them and receive something in return. Although they might not get equal value, they could still acquire assets that address their defensive and goaltending needs.

Rebuild the Team’s Defense.

Based on the current roster, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ defensive pairings for next season would likely be:

Morgan Rielly – Jake McCabe
Simon Benoit – Conor Timmins

The remaining defensemen are prospects from the Marlies, such as Cade Webber, Topi Niemela, Mikko Kokkonen, Noah Chadwick, William Villeneuve, Nicolas Mattinen, and Marshall Rifai. It is doubtful that any of these players will make the NHL roster next season, barring a surprising training camp performance.

Ideally, the Leafs could utilize the left-handed McCabe on his natural side, creating a solid left side with Rielly, McCabe, and Benoit. However, the right side of the defense remains a concern, with only Timmins as a signed NHL-caliber right-handed defenseman. Timmins was unable to secure a roster spot this past season.

Timothy Liljegren is a restricted free agent (RFA) who can only negotiate with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is eligible for salary arbitration, which could become a contentious issue in his contract negotiations.

It is unclear if and where Liljegren fits into the Leafs’ plans moving forward. He has yet to solidify a consistent role in the lineup, performing well in top-four minutes at times but also struggling to remain in the lineup at other times. Despite being in the Leafs organization for seven years and having 350 professional games under his belt, Liljegren’s long-term role with the team is still uncertain.

Usually, by this stage in a player’s career, their identity and capabilities are more well-defined. The Leafs will need to carefully evaluate Liljegren’s value and potential as they determine his role and negotiate a new contract with the RFA defenseman.

It is difficult to argue that Timothy Liljegren has significant untapped potential at this stage of his career. Given that new Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has expressed a preference for big, physical defensemen, the 6’1″, 190 lb Liljegren may not fit that mold. This could potentially lead to the end of his tenure with the Leafs.

Regardless of whether Liljegren remains with the team or not, he is unlikely to be a game-changing factor that dramatically shifts the balance for the Maple Leafs. His future role and impact are uncertain, and the team will need to carefully weigh his value as they negotiate a new contract with the restricted free agent.

Figure Out the Goaltending Situation.

If Joseph Woll is healthy, he is likely to be in contention for one of the Maple Leafs’ goalie positions and potentially even the starting job. Woll has performed well in the past two seasons when healthy, but his injury issues have been a concern. The team must decide whether to gamble on his health and rely on him as the starter or seek alternative options.

One option could be to sign a goalie like Martin Jones, who has experience as a starter. Alternatively, the Maple Leafs might choose to spend more money on a top-tier goalie. However, if they are unable to re-sign Ilya Samsonov, they may need to explore other options.

If the team decides to trade Mitch Marner and/or John Tavares, it could free up more salary cap space to pursue a high-profile goalie.

The Bottom Line for the Maple Leafs GM Treliving.

The three most pressing issues GM Brad Treliving must resolve before the start of next season are:

1. Determining the futures of Mitch Marner and John Tavares, either by re-signing them or trading their rights.

2. Addressing the team’s defensive needs, either through internal options like Timothy Liljegren or by acquiring new players.

3. Solidifying the goaltending situation, deciding whether to rely on Joseph Woll as the starter, sign a veteran free agent, or pursue a trade for an established #1 goalie.

If Treliving can successfully navigate these challenges, the Maple Leafs will once again have the talent and depth to achieve regular season success. However, the key will be translating that into playoff victories, which has eluded the team in recent years despite their regular season prowess. Resolving these roster questions will be crucial for the Leafs to take the next step as a franchise.