The Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings may be thinking a step ahead while the rest of the NHL keeps busy reshaping rosters this offseason.
According to TSN insider Darren Dreger, both clubs have an eye on next summer and the remote possibility that Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid could become available before the final years of their contracts. That kind of long view shapes how a front office handles everything now, from cap planning to roster construction.
“Like I think Dallas is one of those teams that is sitting there going, LA would be another, they’re sitting there going, ‘OK, let’s just get through next season. If we can get through next season and either Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid happen to land on the table here, we want to be a player in that.’ So they do have to be mindful of how they build their roster,”
Matthews, 28, has two years left on the four-year, $53 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2023. McDavid, 29, is set to enter the first year of the two-year, $25 million extension he signed with the Oilers in October next season, 2026-27.
Dallas and Los Angeles obviously aren’t the only teams watching for that kind of opportunity. But Dreger’s mention of those two stands out, especially the Stars, who have already been tied to big names such as Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski. If those pursuits come up empty, Jim Nill may still have something major in mind for next summer.
In Other News...
Canadiens Suddenly In Direct Fight With Leafs For Coveted Free Agent
As NHL free agency opened, Toronto found itself in an interesting spot with a player who fits the kind of addition front offices tend to chase this time of year: a proven winger who can slide into a reliable role without needing the spotlight. Chris Johnston of The Athletic projects the deal could land around four years at roughly $5.67 million per season, a price tag that signals this is more than a short-term depth play.
What makes the situation especially notable for the Maple Leafs is the company they are keeping in the pursuit. Montreal is in the mix too, turning what might have been a straightforward market into a direct battle with a division rival for a veteran forward expected to stay in a middle-six role. For Toronto, it is the sort of free-agent competition that can shape the middle of the roster before the summer really gets moving. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Could Quietly Define Their Summer With These Forward Targets
Torontos cap picture is shaping the conversation around this summer almost as much as the roster itself, and the Leafs are being pushed toward the kind of value shopping that can quietly matter in a big way. With free agency approaching, the focus is on forwards who can add speed, secondary scoring and lineup flexibility without forcing the club into uncomfortable spending decisions.
Eeli Tolvanen, Michael Bunting and Oliver Bjorkstrand all fit that general idea in different ways, which is why they stand out as names worth tracking if Toronto stays disciplined on term and money. The challenge, as always, is finding the right balance between fit and cost, and that is where the Leafs could end up defining their offseason long before the biggest names come off the board. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Fans Just Got A Sudden Twist In The Werenski Chase
Zach Werenskis name has been hanging around the rumor mill long enough to get Maple Leafs fans thinking about a possible blue-line upgrade, and the latest twist at least explains why the chatter spiked. Reports say Werenski, his agent Judd Moldaver and Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell spoke recently to calm things down and clear the air after all the trade speculation, a sign that Columbus wanted to address the noise before it turned into something bigger.
For Toronto, the appeal is obvious whenever a top defenseman becomes part of the conversation, especially one with the kind of contractual leverage Werenski has. But the more immediate takeaway is that any idea of a quick move now looks a lot less straightforward than it did a few days ago, which leaves the Leafs watching from the sidelines and waiting to see whether this is merely a pause in the discussion or the end of it. [Read more 🡒]