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Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs (Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Marner Reckoning, Blue Line Biggies & McMann Make-or-Break

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Jul 13, 2025 10:55 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs have entered another transformative offseason. With Mitch Marner now gone, the organization is recalibrating, not rebuilding. The search is on for high-end talent, particularly on the blue line, and internal players like Bobby McMann are being challenged to seize opportunity under second-year head coach Craig Berube.

In this edition of News & Rumours, I’ll look at how fans are processing Marner’s departure, which defensemen the Maple Leafs are targeting to replace his offense, and why McMann might be one of the team’s most crucial swing players in 2025-26.

Item One: Maple Leafs Fans’ Final Reckoning on Marner

Mitch Marner’s time with the Maple Leafs was never dull. Over nearly a decade, he racked up points at an elite pace, dazzled with vision and creativity, and anchored the team’s top power-play unit. By the numbers, he was one of the most productive wingers in the NHL. But for all that statistical excellence, his presence in Toronto constantly stirred something more complicated—admiration, frustration, loyalty, and fatigue all swirled together.

For many fans, Marner became a symbol of what worked—and what didn’t—under the now-dismantled Core Four era. He could dominate shifts, drive play, and log big minutes in all situations. But the team’s playoff struggles, his sizable contract, and his tendency to fade when the games got heavier left a sour note. He wasn’t the reason the Maple Leafs didn’t win, but he was wrapped up in the story of the team’s underachievement, at least in fans’ eyes.

Now that he’s gone, the fan base seems to have arrived at a kind of quiet finality. Not with anger. Not even with sadness. Just a settling of the story.

After writing several recent posts on Marner and reading dozens (maybe hundreds) of fan comments, the verdict that’s emerged feels surprisingly unified—summed up in three simple, heavy phrases: Statistically excellent. Personally polarizing. Ultimately incomplete.

That’s it. That’s the legacy. Marner did so much. He meant so much. But in the end, he couldn’t put the team over the top.

Item Two: Are Maple Leafs Eyeing Blue Line Star Power Karlsson & Hamilton?

With Marner’s playmaking and power-play presence gone, the Maple Leafs appear to be looking to the blue line for an offensive replacement. According to RG.org, Toronto has expressed interest in two elite right-shot defensemen: Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils.

There seems to be more than just idle chatter when it comes to the Maple Leafs and Erik Karlsson. While some might assume lingering tension between Kyle Dubas and the Toronto organization could complicate trade talks, that’s not expected to be a barrier. This is a hockey decision—and if both sides see value and can make the cap numbers work, a deal remains very much in play.

The same logic applies to Hamilton, who could offer a younger, perhaps steadier option with similar upside. Both players would represent a significant shift in Toronto’s structure, moving the creative engine from up front to the back end. Whether through Karlsson’s elite puck movement or Hamilton’s dual threat as a shooter and distributor, the message is clear: this team still intends to play fast, create offense, and keep opponents off balance.

Item Three: Bobby McMann: A Focused Path Toward a Breakout Year

While Toronto searches for external help, one player who could internally fill a larger role is Bobby McMann. After a breakout regular season with 20 goals and 136 hits, McMann’s offensive impact vanished toward the end of the season—no goals in his final 11 regular-season games and none in 13 playoff contests. That cold stretch cost him minutes under Craig Berube, who cut McMann’s ice time sharply as the postseason wore on.

Nicholas Robertson could be in for a training camp battle for the second line left wing spot with Bobby McMann. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Yet Berube’s comments during the regular season make it clear he still sees potential. “It’s about arriving on time on the forecheck and at the net,” the coach said, emphasizing speed, wall play, and net-front consistency. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds with a heavy shot, McMann fits the mold of a modern power forward. What he needs now is execution and an apparent embrace of the physical, direct game Berube wants.

McMann might not be a household name, but his growth could be quietly critical to Toronto’s depth. If he delivers on his tools and trusts the role he’s given, 2025-26 could be the year he breaks through for good.

What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?

With the draft behind them and free agency still moving in the background, the Maple Leafs remain active on the trade front. Whether a deal for Karlsson or Hamilton materializes will depend on salary cap gymnastics and the flexibility of potential partners. Meanwhile, internal evaluations continue—players like McMann, Nicholas Robertson, and Easton Cowan are being closely watched to see who can step up in a reshaped lineup.

Berube’s fingerprints are starting to show, and the identity of this new-look team is beginning to form. It won’t be built around the Core Four anymore, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be built to win.