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Maple Leafs Linked With Multi-Time All-Star Entering Offseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Levine | Last updated May 27, 2025 3:44 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a tough spot as they head into the offseason. After another early playoff exit, the Maple Leafs roster could look very different next season.

Toronto has multiple key players entering into free agency, and a few of them aren't expected to return. The main one is star Mitch Marner, who would be taking some massive production with him if he were to leave.

But the Maple Leafs will also likely be active in adding to the team. This roster needs some tweaks to ensure that another early playoff exit doesn't happen next season.

James Mirtle of The Athletic listed center options for Toronto, and Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars was named as a potential option for Toronto. The Maple Leafs need to upgrade at the center spot this offseason, and Duchene could be a solid addition.

"Well, at center, there just aren’t many options. If the Leafs are resolved to trying to find a 2C, there are really only three names going UFA this year other than Tavares: Matt Duchene, Sam Bennett and Brock Nelson."

Duchene had a great year for Dallas during the regular season, putting up 30 goals and 52 assists. So far in the postseason, he has registered one goal and four assists over 16 games played.

Adding someone like him could help this team dramatically, especially if they do allow Marner to leave town. Duchene would be an upgrade for this roster and could help alleviate some of the offensive woes that Toronto saw in the playoffs.

Duchene has been very productive in his two years in Dallas and could possibly welcome the chance to help Toronto go after the Stanley Cup.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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