Tavares Deal Signals a Smarter, Stronger Maple Leafs Strategy

Though highly regarded, Easton Cowan has yet to play an NHL game. Starting him on the top line would be a bold move, and his actual role will likely depend on how he performs during training camp.

What About Mitch Marner?

The other big piece in play is Mitch Marner. While nothing is official, all signs indicate he moves on before the season begins. Whether it’s to gain cap flexibility, rebalance the roster, or move on from another playoff letdown, the writing appears to be on the wall.

What do the Maple Leafs bring in to replace him? A top-four defenseman? A scoring winger? Draft capital? That choice will go a long way in shaping how the rest of the offseason unfolds. But make no mistake: the Tavares deal, followed by the potential loss of Marner, signals a clear transition into a new era for this team.

A Glimpse at the Bigger Strategy

Treliving is focused on making this roster deeper, more defensively responsible, and more challenging to play against. The additions of Chris Tanev, Brandon Carlo, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson speak to a commitment to reshaping the blue line. Moving forward, expect continued focus on players who can fill specific roles: penalty killers, puck retrievers, and players who bring playoff-style grit.

The Tavares extension shows that even the core players are buying in. No longer is this team leaning entirely on the Big Four to carry the load. Instead, there’s a shift toward balanced, role-based hockey—something head coach Craig Berube has long championed.

Final Thoughts About the Maple Leafs Lineup

If the puck dropped tomorrow, the lineup listed above is what we’d likely see. However, with $19.9 million in cap space and several key decisions still pending, this is just the first draft of what could be a very different-looking team by October.

With Tavares locked in at a team-friendly rate, the Maple Leafs have a rare chance to reshape the roster without gutting the foundation. The next few weeks will determine whether they can finally build a team good enough to make and win in the playoffs.

[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]