The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into 2026-27 looking like a team that’s been reshaped from the top down. Gavin McKenna is set to jump right into the top six after going first overall, the bottom six has been overhauled in a busy offseason, and there’s a new starter in goal. The message is clear: this group wants back in the playoffs.
John Chayka has already shown he’s not done tinkering. Earlier this month, he said, “We think we’ve got some good stability through our lineup now. If we can add difference makers, I think we should always be trying to do that, and it does feel like there might be more liquidity in the market in these July, August months.”
That kind of roster churn opens the door for camp battles, and the Maple Leafs now have enough organizational depth that a few players on the fringe can make a real push for opening night. Three names stand out as possible surprises.
Jacob Quillan is one of them. The 24-year-old spent 23 games with Toronto last season, putting up one goal and two assists for three points.
He was also productive with the Toronto Marlies, posting 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points in 40 AHL games. Toronto could carry 14 forwards to start the year, which means some of those bottom-six jobs may be there for the taking.
Quillan, an undrafted Quinnipiac product, looks like a player who is ready to try the NHL full-time. If he has a strong camp, he could force the coaching staff’s hand and win a look early in the season.
Zack MacEwen is another forward who could sneak onto the roster. He signed a two-year deal with Toronto after appearing in just three games for the New Jersey Devils last season, but he brings 240 games of NHL experience with him.
MacEwen’s game is built around size and physicality, and that seems to fit what the Maple Leafs had in mind when they brought him in. He’ll have to outplay some veterans, but if he has a good camp, new head coach Jim Hiller could decide he’s worth a fourth-line spot.
Then there’s Artur Akhtyamov, who makes this list for a different reason. The goaltender has only three NHL games on his résumé, and those outings were rough: a 5.24 goals-against average and a .877 save percentage.
But he was much steadier with the Marlies last season, finishing with a 2.88 GAA and a .904 SV%. Toronto already has its goaltending tandem set with Sergei Bobrosvky and Anthony Stolarz, but the uncertainty around Bobrovsky and whether he can bounce back after a horrendous 2025-26 campaign leaves the door open for a third goalie.
Akhtyamov should get preseason starts, and if he impresses, the Maple Leafs could keep him around and even give him a few regular-season games.
A three-goalie setup is already on the table for other teams, including the Edmonton Oilers, so Toronto would not be breaking new ground by considering it. At the very least, Akhtyamov gives them a ready option in the AHL if injuries hit.
There are other players who could make noise in camp, but Quillan, MacEwen and Akhtyamov are the three most intriguing possibilities as the Maple Leafs sort out their opening-night roster.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs May Have A Veteran Winger Gamble Worth Watching
The Maple Leafs have spent the offseason adding pieces and reworking the edges of their roster, and the forward group still looks like an area where another veteran could make sense. With new faces already in the mix, Toronto has at least considered whether a low-risk addition might help round out the depth chart and give the coaching staff another experienced option to sort through in camp.
One name that fits that kind of conversation is a winger with a long NHL track record and a championship on his rsum, even if his recent scoring has not matched earlier peaks. The appeal for Toronto is obvious: a player like that could be worth a look on a professional tryout or a short-term deal, especially if the Leafs want more proven depth without committing much term or money. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Fans Just Got A New Reason To Watch Erik Karlsson
Erik Karlssons future in Pittsburgh is already drawing attention, and for Maple Leafs fans, it comes with a familiar subplot. Josh Yohe of The Athletic laid out a scenario in which the Penguins could become sellers if they are not in the mix by midseason, with Karlsson emerging as one of the biggest names to watch. If Pittsburgh stays competitive, the club could simply ride out the season with him and then decide not to bring him back, a possibility that reflects both his age and the size of the contract still attached to him.
For Toronto, the intrigue is obvious because the Leafs have been linked in speculation around high-end blue-line help before, and Karlssons name naturally fits that conversation. Ottawa has also surfaced as another possible landing spot, which only adds to the sense that this could become one of the more closely watched storylines if the Penguins season goes sideways. For now, it is just a watch item, but one that could get louder quickly depending on how Pittsburgh looks as the calendar turns. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Just Hit A Familiar Wall In Fantilli Pursuit
Adam Fantillis name has been circling the Maple Leafs for a while now, and the appeal is obvious. The 21-year-old has put together a strong recent stretch, he remains unsigned, and he fits the kind of talent Toronto would love to add if the opportunity ever lined up. The problem is that this is exactly the sort of move that sounds cleaner on paper than it does in the cap era, especially when offer-sheet rules and draft-pick compensation enter the picture.
Toronto is already operating well above the cap, and making a real run at Fantilli would require more than just interest. The Leafs would need to create major room, then sort out the draft-pick side of the equation before they could even think about putting a competitive number on the table. In practical terms, that means moving money out and rebuilding the kind of flexibility that has been hard for this front office to find, which is why the pursuit feels more like a familiar frustration than a realistic path right now. [Read more 🡒]