Boston Bruins division rival set to lose star winger in free agency

As Mitch Marner’s time with the Maple Leafs appears to be nearing an end, Toronto could pivot toward free agency, and reportedly has eyes on former Bruins captain Brad Marchand.

With Mitch Marner on the verge of leaving, Toronto could turn to a surprising option in free agency: longtime Bruins leader Brad Marchand. 

The NHL offseason hasn’t officially begun, but things are already getting chaotic behind the scenes. One of the biggest names generating buzz is Mitch Marner—and not because of what he’ll bring to the Leafs next season. It’s what he might bring another team.

According to NHL insider Andy Strickland, the star winger’s time in Toronto is close to over.

“He’s going to play for a new team next season.”

That opens up cap space, changes Toronto’s off-season outlook entirely, and, most notably, makes room for a bold free-agent pursuit, one that could involve signing a player the Leafs have battled for over a decade: Brad Marchand.

Moving Marner would clear the books, just in time for a big swing

Marner still carries an expensive contract, expected to command somewhere between $12 million and $14 million annually. If the Leafs move on from him, and all signs suggest they might, they’ll suddenly have significant money to work with.

That’s where Marchand enters the picture.

He may be 36, but his play this postseason has been anything but aging. After helping the Florida Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final, Marchand has reminded everyone why he’s one of the league’s fiercest competitors—and most reliable playoff performers.

Elliotte Friedman adds weight to marchand-leafs possibility 

On the latest episode of 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman made a subtle, but important point. If Marner is heading to the Western Conference, that opens up a top-line hole that won’t be easily filled.

“If Marner goes, they’ll need to fill that spot—don’t be surprised if they go after Marchand hard.”

That’s not just speculation. It reflects the way Toronto has operated under GM Brad Treliving: aggressive, forward-thinking, and always looking to change the narrative. Signing Marchand—believed to be worth around $8 million AAV—would do exactly that.

And with Boston reportedly uninterested in matching that figure, Toronto may become a very real landing spot.

Marchand’s Boston chapter may quietly be closing 

While he’s still focused on the Cup Final, now tied 2-2 against the Oilers, Marchand’s long-term future is becoming a bigger talking point.

A return to the Bruins seems increasingly unlikely given the numbers, and if Florida doesn’t bring him back either, Toronto could come calling.

It’s the kind of move that would rattle the division. A player once hated by Leafs fans wearing their crest? It sounds absurd, until you consider the fit.

Leadership, grit, playoff presence, everything Toronto has lacked in key moments, Marchand has made a career out of delivering. And if Marner’s time is truly up, replacing him with a proven winner may be exactly the kind of move Toronto needs to finally change its postseason fate.

The Leafs aren’t just facing another offseason. They’re facing a turning point.