NHL insider reveals update on Maple Leafs' search for top forward

The Toronto Maple Leafs have started the 2025-26 season with an alternate top-six, following the departure of Mitch Marner, and the addition of several new faces.

Coach Craig Berube tested various combinations during training camp, with no fixed wingers for the first line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. Although Max Domi could play with them, there are other possibilities.

Insider Elliotte Friedman reported on Tuesday that Toronto is still looking for a top-six forward, pointing out that the franchise has spent the entire summer exploring different alternatives to cover the hole left by Marner.

"I think Toronto is still looking for a top-six forward. They’ve been doing that all summer since (Mitch) Marner left," Friedman said on Daily Faceoff’s "Morning Cuppa Hockey."

It is unclear whether the Maple Leafs front office will prioritize a center or a winger, but logic suggests it would be a winger — either a top-line right winger (RW1) or a second-line left winger (LW2).

How a new top-six forward would impact the Maple Leafs

A reliable top-six forward would solve three things almost immediately. It would stabilize the combinations, distribute opposing defensive coverage and lift the five-on-five play, where Toronto needs to be more consistent.

If this hypothetical new player is a winger with good transition and passing in the high zone, the second power-play unit would improve, while the PP1 would maintain its pace without overloading Matthews. Berube would gain tactical flexibility to close out games with two dangerous lines.

To acquire a top-six forward, Toronto would probably have to move second- or third-line players, which could subtract defensive depth and lead to a worse penalty kill. That is, perhaps, one of the few risks the franchise would face. Although the Leafs would gain quality up front, they could open new holes in the back.

The Maple Leafs could also benefit from the narrative that could be generated by signing a top forward. The fans have asked for clear signals after Marner's departure. They want a renowned player who confirms that the team will continue fighting for the Stanley Cup, beyond the new DNA imposed by Berube, pointing more toward a team dependent on collective performance.

Despite it being a real need, the Maple Leafs have little space and few premium picks. The most likely scenario is that we will see them hold out for weeks with their current roster, while testing players like Domi, Matias Maccelli and Bobby McMann.