The Toronto Maple Leafs are undoubtedly resigned to the fact that winger Mitch Marner is headed elsewhere next week, leaving a top-six hole that will challenge GM Brad Treliving to fill. The other potential top-six dilemma is center John Tavares, but based on the info relayed by The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Leafs and agent Pat Brisson may be closing in on that much-talked-about sweet spot.
In his NHL Rumblings column on Wednesday, LeBrun indicates that the Leafs and Brisson have maintained a nearly daily dialogue, but that does not mean a deal in close to being consummated. The two sides are likely looking for a landing spot somewhere between the Brock Nelson deal with Colorado (3 years x $7.5 million AAV) and Matt Duchene’s four-year, $18 million deal.
Treliving is definitely using Tavares very public pronouncements of wanting to stay in Toronto to get a much more favorable deal, as Dallas did with Duchene to take a $4.5 million cap hit, but the 34-year-old will get more than most players from that salary since Texas is a no-state-tax state. Brisson reportedly believes he can get Tavares what Nelson is making on a shorter-term deal.
LeBrun believes that a four-year deal at $5 million per season will get it done. If that is true, the Leafs should print up the contract immediately and get it signed before Tavares changes his mind. The center market now that Nelson and Duchene are signed, and Sam Bennett is likely to stay in Florida, is barren. Treliving would have to go into the trade market to acquire a #2 center — someone that would likely cost him an Easton Cowan or Ben Danford to get — which is counterproductive to Toronto’s goal of remaining a Stanley Cup contender.
Leafs Preseason Schedule Released
The Leafs announced their 2025 NHL preseason schedule on Tuesday, which is six games (three home and three away) against Atlantic Division foes. The first game will be on Sunday, September 21st, against the Ottawa Senators in Kanata, ON, with the home preseason debut against the Sens on Tuesday, September 23rd.
Here is the full schedule:
| DATE | OPPONENT | VENUE |
| Sunday, September 21 – 3:00 pm ET | at Ottawa | Canadian Tire Centre (Ottawa, ON) |
| Tuesday, September 23 – 7:00 pm ET | vs. Ottawa | Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, ON) |
| Thursday, September 25 – 7:00 pm ET | at Montréal | Bell Centre (Montréal, QC) |
| Saturday, September 27 – 7:00 pm ET | vs. Montréal | Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, ON) |
| Thursday, October 2 – 7:00 pm ET | vs. Detroit | Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, ON) |
| Saturday, October 4 – 7:00 pm ET | at Detroit | Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, MI) |
