3 players Maple Leafs should target in free agency

It’s already been an extremely eventful start to the offseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matthew Knies and John Tavares both signed team-friendly extensions, which constitutes a DNA change of sorts for the team, revamping a strong roster, with the idea of adding further depth to its forward corps.

Mitch Marner was subsequently traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Nicolas Roy where he will promptly sign a eight-year deal worth $12 million per year. Roy is a third-line centre who slots in nicely for the Maple Leafs and holds a $3 million cap hit through the 2026-27 season.

With an emphasis on changing the team’s DNA and roughly $6 million in cap space to operate with, the Maple Leafs will need to make several additions via free agency. Here are some top targets for the Maple Leafs ahead of July 1:

Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks

Boeser clearly needs a new change of scenery and while he’s been linked to the Edmonton Oilers, the Maple Leafs could be an attractive option for the 28-year-old. He’s two years removed from a 40-goal campaign and while his production tailed off during the 2024-25 season, you could reasonably chalk it up to the Canucks’ profound dysfunction. Seriously, no team in the North American men’s sports landscape were more dramatic than the Canucks, save for the Dallas Mavericks!

Prior to Tuesday’s action, Boeser was ranked as the 6th-best free agent in the class, where AFP Analytics projects that he’ll receive a six-year contract worth $8.5 million. That may prove to be too rich for the Leafs’ liking, but Boeser is certainly a fit when it comes to matching the core group’s timeline, with Auston Matthews and William Nylander leading the charge. Boeser could be a reasonable option to provide some top-six offence for at least four years, and the Leafs could find ways to deal with the contract if it becomes onerous down the line. It’s too far ahead to think this way, especially considering Toronto’s win-now mandate.

Andrew Mangiapane, Washington Capitals

The Leafs Nation’s Nick Alberga reported that the Leafs should be taking a serious look at pursuing Andrew Mangiapane. Mangiapane could reasonably slot in across the top-nine, coming off a 14-goal, 28-point campaign with the Washington Capitals. And here’s the real question: does Mangiapane and his camp expect to be paid for an outlier 35-goal campaign in 2021-22, or for the sum of his production over the past two years, where he’s reached 14 goals in consecutive seasons?