The Maple Leafs are moving toward training camp after a busy offseason, and the work may not be finished yet.
John Chayka has already reshaped the roster in a meaningful way, but the argument here is simple: Toronto should keep looking for depth. Even with the club sitting $2.7 million over the cap, that shouldn’t be treated as a hard stop. One of the cleanest ways to keep adding bodies is through Professional Tryout contracts.
That route would make sense only if the goal is insurance, not lineup certainty. Toronto could lean on its Marlies pipeline, but that comes with a catch. Taking someone like Bo Groulx, a key Marlies player, and parking him in the press box as the 13th forward is, as the source puts it, just nuts.
A better fit might be a depth defenseman such as Carson Soucy. The 32-year-old split last season between both New York teams and didn’t turn heads with a huge year, but he did enough to offer cover late in the season.
He could slide in and out of the lineup with someone like Troy Stecher, and he also wouldn’t cost much. That kind of piece is exactly the sort of player Toronto could fit under the cap once training camp wraps.
Up front, a pair of familiar names could be worth a look.
James van Riemsdyk would be one possible reunion. His prime years are behind him, but Toronto wouldn’t need him to be that player anymore. If he can chip in 10 to 15 goals while handling bottom-six minutes, he’d justify a cheap, incentive-laden deal.
Michael Bunting is the other reunion that stands out. He’s not as close to the finish as JVR, but the 31-year-old also hasn’t attracted the level of attention he likely expected.
With September here, a one-year show-me deal would make sense for him. If it clicks, it could set him up for one more multi-year contract before the end of his career.
And if the price is right, the Leafs could even live with Bunting as a movable depth option, one they can sit in the press box if needed. On that kind of contract, he becomes a useful wild card.
The idea isn’t to chase veterans and hand them regular roles. It’s to use PTOs and low-cost deals to build out the edges of the roster. If Toronto approaches it that way, it’s not a bad next move at all.
In Other News...
Leafs Prospects Are Already Sending A Message Before Camp
Before training camp even opens, the Maple Leafs are already getting a look at the kind of work that can shape a season. Gavin McKenna and Ben Danford were spotted practicing in Muskoka alongside John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, Scott Laughton, and Mitch Marner, a summer setting that carries real significance for two prospects trying to make their way into Torontos long-term picture. For young players, those reps are about more than just staying sharp. They are a chance to see the pace, habits, and expectations that come with being around established NHL talent.
For Toronto, the setting is especially interesting because it gives McKenna and Danford a chance to start building chemistry with current Leafs while absorbing details from veterans who know what it takes to hold down a role in this market. Summer ice time does not decide anything on its own, but it can help a prospect stand out before the real competition begins. If either player is going to push into a bigger future role, moments like these are where the first impression starts to form. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Just Made A Goalie Bet That Could Haunt Matthews Window
The Maple Leafs have added another high-profile piece to their goaltending picture, signing veteran Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year, $21 million contract with a $7 million average annual value. It is the kind of move that signals urgency, and it also comes with the sort of risk Toronto has tried to avoid in the past: a long-term commitment to an older goalie on a deal built to matter right away.
Because of NHL 35-plus contract rules and Bobrovskys full no-movement clause, the Leafs wont have much wiggle room if the fit goes sideways. The timing makes it more delicate, too, since the deal runs into Auston Matthews final contracted season and could tighten the clubs cap flexibility right when the front office needs it most. [Read more 🡒]
Calle Jarnkrok Opens Up About A Frustrating End With The Leafs
Calle Jarnkroks move back to the SHL with Brynas officially closes the book on a 13-year NHL career, and for the Maple Leafs it also puts a fine point on how uneven his final stretch in Toronto became. After arriving with real expectation and opening the 2025-26 season on a strong note, he still found himself fighting for a regular role, while injuries repeatedly interrupted any chance to settle in and build momentum.
Jarnkrok said the last two seasons were frustrating, but he also made clear he valued the time he spent in Toronto and the chance to play for the Leafs. For a player whose game often depended on rhythm and trust, the combination of limited ice time and health issues made the ending feel sharper than the beginning, even as his next chapter now takes shape in Sweden. [Read more 🡒]