The Toronto Maple Leafs from a wide swath of draft evaluators received an A+ or A grade for the 10 picks selected at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo last weekend, but that will have an impact in the future. Top pick Gavin McKenna will be an integral part of the Leafs next season, but now GM John Chayka has to go to work to fill out and upgrade his roster, whether it be in free agency or by trade.
The weekend did not see the much-rumored move of Matthew Knies, but the name of Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski has entered the picture. The 28-year-old blueliner has reportedly indicated that he wants to move on from the Columbus Blue Jackets, which will start a bidding war for the US Olympian, who has two more years remaining at a $9.58 million AAV.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes that the Dallas Stars would be in on Werenski, and might be willing to deal Canadian Olympian Thomas Harley in a deal, but also believes that the Leafs would be interested in the blueliner, and that Knies could be part of a package deal for him. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that he doubts Toronto would be willing or able to match that level of an offer for Werenski, but there is no certainty that Dallas is willing to move Harley, who is starting an eight-year, $84.6 million extension next season.
With the trade of Brandon Carlo on Saturday, the Leafs have more than $22 million in cap space entering free agency, and with the motivation to returning to the playoffs next season, Chayka is likely to be busy. Toronto is looking to upgrade up front by adding depth forwards and another top six forward, but there are few top-six options on July 1.
Names such as former Leafs Mason Marchment, Scott Laughton, ex-Blue Jacket Boone Jenner and Mario Ferraro have been mentioned. One intriguing option could be future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane. The 36-year-old is rumored to be open to moving on from the Detroit Red Wings after three seasons, and the Leafs are in desperate need off help on the right side after William Nylander. Currently, the status of Max Domi is up in the air for next season, and right now head coach Jim Hiller may be forced to move left-shooting Knies or Cowan to the right side.
Kane had 57 points (16 goals, 41 assists) in 67 games on an incentive-laden deal with the Wings last season. With the likely departure of Dylan Larkin this summer, Detroit may be taking a step back next season, and with the Leafs motivated to doing a quick turnaround for the next two seasons, it is possible that they would be willing to do a similar incentive-based deal for one or two years.
On the free agent front, the Leafs have till 5pm to submit qualifying offers on RFA forwards Nick Robertson, Matias Maccelli, Jacob Quillan, Ryan Tverberg, defensemen William Villeneuve, Henry Thrun, and Emil Andrae. The hot button in this group would be Maccelli, whose qualifying offer would be in excess of $4 million, something that the 39-point forward would likely accept. Chayka would be wise to not go down that road and spend the money elsewhere, while qualifying Robertson, Quillan, Villeneuve, and Andrae should be no-brainers.
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