With the salary cap set to jump to $127 million in 2027-28, the Maple Leafs are staring at a very different free-agent market than the one they know now. That kind of cap space opens the door for major swings, and Toronto already has one premium name circled: Nikita Kucherov.
Kucherov is described as being open to playing in Toronto, and may even prefer the Maple Leafs over every other team when free agency arrives. He’s the biggest prize on the board, and he’d give Toronto a ridiculous amount of firepower if he landed alongside Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Kirill Marchenko, Easton Cowan, and Gavin McKenna.
At 33, Kucherov comes with a massive price tag. He has more than 1,100 points, two Stanley Cups, three scoring titles and two MVP trophies, and the expectation is that he’d want at least as much as Leo Carlsson.
That puts him in the $17 million AAV range at minimum, with the number potentially climbing to $20 million depending on the bidding. Even with that age concern, the appeal is obvious.
A top six of Cowan-Matthews-Kucherov and Marchenko-Tavares-Nylander would be loaded.
If Toronto wants a younger star with a similar impact, Jason Robertson is the cleanest alternative. The 27-year-old winger is coming off a run from 2022-2026 in which he averaged 39 goals, 89 points, a plus-104 rating, nearly 300 hits, and finished twice as a Top-20 Selke finalist.
He’s 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, and brings a rare mix of scoring and defensive value. The idea here is simple: if the Leafs are willing to spend $17-20 million annually, Robertson makes more sense than a 33-year-old because he’s in his prime.
The question, as the source notes, is whether he’d want to come to Toronto, especially with the history involving his brother Nick.
On the blue line, Vince Dunn stands out as a fit who could help Toronto generate offense from the back end. The 30-year-old has averaged nearly 11 goals and 46 points from 2022-26, while logging more than 22 minutes and 141 shots per season in that span.
He’s also a strong playmaker and shot-blocker, with enough speed to matter in transition. There are defensive concerns, but not enough to make him a liability.
The bigger issue is cost, since he’s expected to command a double-digit AAV. Still, if Toronto can move Morgan Rielly’s contract, Dunn could step in as a more reliable option at both ends.
A deal around $55 million over five years would fit the current market.
Barrett Hayton is another name that would make sense for the Maple Leafs if they want a center who brings edge and responsibility. The 26-year-old isn’t a 40-goal, 100-point player, but he can give a team 20 goals, 50 points, elite faceoff numbers, and a relentless two-way game.
He was a problem for Toronto on Tuesday night, getting under the skin of multiple Leafs and helping the Mammoth win by using his frame and aggressive style. A long-term deal in the $7.5-8 million range would give Toronto a second- and third-line center option in one package.
The final name on the list is Artyom Zub, a 31-year-old defenseman who would give Toronto exactly what it lacks in some spots: a shutdown presence. He blocks shots, throws hits, and makes life miserable for opponents.
The source points out that he consistently leads the team in xGF% and xGA/60 among defenders, and that part of the reason Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson can attack so freely is because Zub is doing the dirty work behind them. He wouldn’t bring offense, but he would be a true Chris Tanev replacement and a right-shot defender Toronto could trust next to more offensive blue-liners.
A deal around $7 million per season for three or four years would keep him in the Leafs’ range.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs May Have Found A Real Mitch Marner Successor
The Maple Leafs have spent plenty of time looking for the right fit beside Auston Matthews, and Jack Roslovic has at least given them a compelling answer early in the season. Slotted onto Torontos top line with Matthews and Kirill Marchenko, Roslovic has looked comfortable in an elevated role and has brought the kind of pace and finishing touch that can change the feel of a line in a hurry.
Through 17 games, Roslovic has already piled up eight goals and 10 assists, putting him on track for a career-best offensive season. The next wrinkle is how Toronto handles the line when Marchenko is ready to return from a lower-body injury, because the Leafs now have to figure out whether this alignment is a short-term spark or something worth keeping intact. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Rookie Faces A New Test As Tavares Nears Return
Gavin McKennas role has shifted again as the Maple Leafs start to get healthier, with the rookie no longer working on the top power-play group and settling into a prominent spot on the second unit. It is the kind of adjustment that comes with playing on a contender, where one lineup change can ripple through the special teams setup and force a young player to keep finding ways to stay useful.
Jim Hiller has pointed to McKennas growth, especially away from the puck, as a reason the coaching staff still trusts him in an important spot. The timing matters because John Tavares is nearing a return, and the Leafs are preparing for a familiar kind of squeeze that comes when a veteran center is ready to rejoin the mix and everyone else has to adapt around him. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face A Costly Dilemma In Pursuit Of Simon Edvinsson
The Maple Leafs are again being linked to a big swing on the blue line, with Detroit defenseman Simon Edvinsson emerging as a possible target as Toronto weighs how aggressive it wants to be. The appeal is obvious: Edvinsson is a young, high-end defender who could fit a long-term need, but any pursuit would come with the usual Toronto problem of paying a premium in both trade assets and future flexibility.
There is still no confirmation of official talks or an agreement between the clubs, but the cost of even getting into the conversation looks steep. Edvinsson is currently without a contract and is believed to be chasing a major extension, which only adds another layer to the dilemma for Toronto as it tries to decide whether the fit is worth the price. [Read more 🡒]