What if Brock Boeser played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2025-26?

The two biggest questions the Toronto Maple Leafs if Mitch Marner leaves the team: where will another 100-point player come from to replace the production that Marner provides, and who will fill the void on the right wing? The answer to the first question is simple, as the Maple Leafs won’t be able to make up Marner’s 100-point ability with a single player, especially not from the 2025 free agency class.

If the Maple Leafs want to compete for the Stanley Cup next year, or even remain competitive in the Atlantic Division, they will need to add multiple players that can add up to what Marner does, with the idea of having a more balanced attack up front.

The not-so-simple question is figuring out who will fill Marner’s spot on the wing and that’s where Brock Boeser could come into play as a solution to the impending void. Boeser, like Marner, is in search of a new home. He doesn’t seem wanted by his current team as he heads into free agency and told reporters that it’s unlikely he’ll return to the Canucks. That would be music to the ears of Leafs fans!

Natural goal scorers like Boeser don’t become available often, and when they do, it’s usually through a trade. Boeser posted up 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games for the Canucks during the 2024-25 season and has increasingly become known for his great shot. Boeser has scored at least 20 goals in six of his eight NHL campaigns, with a career-high 40 goals coming during the 2023-24 campaign. While there are points during the regular season where his scoring ability will dry up, Boeser seems to find another level in the playoffs. Boeser recorded seven goals and 12 points in 12 postseason games during the 2023-24 postseason, along with one-game winning goal.

Although the Leafs would be signing Boeser at a lower value than last year, he still won’t come cheap. The 28-year-old is Daily Faceoff’s third-ranked free agent and the second-best right winger available behind Marner. Using AFP Analytics to project Boeser’s new deal, he should see a pay bump from his current deal at $6.7 million AAV to the $8.5 million AAV dollar range on a long-term contract.

Obviously, as with any player this summer, the Maple Leafs shouldn’t be lured into overpaying, but if they were able to sign Boeser to a number found to be reasonable by both player and team — say somewhere in the $7.5-8 million range — adding Boeser to the fold would absolutely be a great thing. He would slot right into the second line, alongside John Tavares (assuming he re-signs) and possibly with Maple Leafs top prospect Easton Cowan, making a balanced but lethal top six. Boeser isn’t at the same level as William Nylander, but he’s still a great goal scorer and would be a natural fit with Tavares, who has helped get the most out of Nylander on the offensive side of the puck.

The biggest question mark with Boeser isn’t whether or not the Maple Leafs would be interested, it’s whether Boeser is interested in signing with them after spending the first decade in the league with another Canadian team. It’s more than likely he’ll want to play in a less pressure-packed market. For all the on-ice reasons, this is a mutual fit.