The Maple Leafs may finally get their shot at a player they’ve circled for a long time.
The Utah Mammoth are expected to place veteran forward Brandon Tanev on waivers on Friday, opening the door for Toronto to make a move if it wants to. The news came amid a reported flurry of roster activity from Utah, and Tanev’s name was the one that stood out.
Tanev’s numbers last season were modest - just three assists in 55 games with the Mammoth - but his value has never been about offense. Over 608 career games, he has 183 points and has built a reputation as a defensive specialist who can help on the penalty kill, block shots and play a physical game.
His strongest season came in 2022-23 with the Seattle Kraken, when he put up 16 goals and 35 points while also delivering 190 hits. That year, he finished 30th in Selke voting.
For the Maple Leafs, the appeal is obvious. Toronto has been linked to Tanev for some time, and this would be a low-risk way to add a veteran forward who fits a clear role. The Leafs were in the mix for him in 2025, but he ended up signing with Utah instead.
There’s also the family angle. Brandon’s older brother Chris is already a familiar presence in Toronto, where he has been the anchor and backbone of the team’s shutdown core. Adding Brandon would give the Leafs something close to the forward version of that skill set, which could matter even more with questions around Nick Paul’s current status.
Toronto does have its own roster situation to sort through, though. Steven Lorentz is also on waivers as the club waits to learn his fate later on Friday. If the Leafs have room after the rest of the roster shakes out, a reunion between Chris and Brandon Tanev could be on the table in blue and white.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Just Bought Themselves Breathing Room On The Fourth Line
Steven Lorentz clearing waivers gave the Maple Leafs a little more room to maneuver, and for a team that likes to keep its options open, that matters. Toronto can now move the depth forward between the NHL and AHL rosters within the rules, which gives the coaching staff more flexibility as it tries to balance the fourth line, injuries and the need to keep the bench fresh.
It is the kind of small roster win that can be easy to overlook until the schedule gets tight and the Leafs need bodies they can trust. It also stands in contrast to some of the waiver losses Toronto has taken under previous management, when depth pieces slipped away without much of a return, so keeping Lorentz in the organization at least buys the team a little breathing room. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs May Face A Massive Price To Reshape Their Top Six
The Maple Leafs search for help in the top six has reportedly reached a familiar place: expensive territory. On 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman said Toronto has shown interest in Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko, a player who would fit the kind of scoring look the Leafs have been trying to sharpen around their core.
What makes the idea harder to ignore is the price tag attached to it. Any serious push for Marchenko could involve major assets, with Matthew Knies and a future first-round pick mentioned as part of the conversation because of the wingers expected contract demands. No deal is close, but the mere possibility shows how far Toronto may be willing to go if it decides a top-six shakeup is worth the cost. [Read more 🡒]
Two Former Maple Leafs Are Still Waiting As Camp Nears The End
As NHL training camps wind down, a couple of familiar names are still hanging around the open market. Michael Bunting and James van Riemsdyk, both former Maple Leafs, remain unsigned, which is a reminder that even proven veterans can find the late stages of the offseason stubbornly quiet.
Bunting put up 33 points last season after splitting time between Nashville and Dallas, while van Riemsdyk brings a far longer resume, with more than 1,000 NHL games and 300 career goals. For both players, the next opportunity may come down to timing as much as talent, with injuries and last-minute depth needs often shaping the final roster puzzle before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]