Maple Leafs Top Five Free Agent Targets

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka is set to continue putting his imprint on the team this week. On Wednesday, when free agency starts at 12 p.m., Chayka is in a decent position. He currently has $20.93 million in available cap space.

Some of that cap space will need to be used to re-sign RFAs to whom Toronto gave qualifying offers. The team will also be signing Gavin McKenna to his three-year entry-level contract at some point. However, even with those business items to attend to, Chayka still has cap flexibility.

The main question now is who the Maple Leafs will target once the free agent market opens tomorrow. Here’s a look at some possible targets for Chayka to consider.

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Maple Leafs Top 5 Targets

Patrick Kane, RW

Patrick Kane is Gavin McKenna’s idol. Yes, Kane turns 38 in November, but he demonstrated in 2025-26 with the Detroit Red Wings that he can still produce. He registered 57 points in 67 games. One has to wonder whether Kane could be intrigued by the idea of playing with McKenna and fellow American superstar Auston Matthews.

It’s no secret that Kane’s best days are behind him, but his leadership and presence could be the right fit with the Maple Leafs. Kane just completed a one-year deal worth $3 million. A one-year or two-year deal around the same AAV could work for both Toronto and Kane.

Mason Marchment, LW

Mason Marchment is a former Maple Leafs forward. He was a member of the Toronto Marlies’ 2018 Calder Cup championship team. Former GM Kyle Dubas made some bad decisions during his time in Toronto; trading Marchment to the Florida Panthers for Denis Malgin in 2020 is one of his worst.

The 31-year-old Marchment registered 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 39 games for Columbus last year. In total, he had 45 points in 68 games split between Columbus and the Seattle Kraken. His most recent contract was worth $4.5 million AAV for four years.

Viktor Arvidsson, LW

Viktor Arvidsson registered 25 goals and 29 assists for 54 points in 69 games for Toronto’s divisional rival, the Boston Bruins, last season. If Chayka can sign Arvidsson to a contract slightly higher than what he just finished (two years with an AAV of $4 million), a deal could likely get done.

Arvidsson is 33 years old, so I don’t think Toronto should consider any deal with him for longer than four years. A two-year deal would be perfect, as the Maple Leafs have plenty of young stars waiting in the wings.

Anthony Mantha, RW

Anthony Mantha set career highs with 33 goals and 64 points last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. No other free agent forward scored that many goals in 2025-26. For Mantha, that could equal a lucrative contract, which means there could be a bidding war for his services.

The 31-year-old made the most of his contract year. He only registered 27 goals combined during his previous two seasons. One has to hope that if Chayka takes a gamble on adding Mantha, he produces at last season’s pace, and not the previous two.

Teddy Blueger, C

Teddy Blueger would be a good option for adding depth to Toronto’s bottom six. The 31-year-old plays smart hockey and can chip in 25-30 points. The nice part about adding Blueger is that he wouldn’t be expensive. He is coming off a two-year contract worth $1.8 million AAV. A three-year deal worth $2.25 million a season should be enough to land his services.