Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving will meet with the media on Thursday morning to discuss the present and future of the club after losing to the Florida Panthers earlier this month and the departure of Team President Brendan Shanahan. Treliving will undoubtedly be asked about whether the club will attempt to re-sign pending free agents Mitch Marner and John Tavares, and negotiations regarding restricted free agent Matthew Knies, but will only be able to speak in generalities about free agents on other clubs.
Besides Marner – who is expected to garner interest from nearly half of the league – the most sought-after free agent will be Panthers center Sam Bennett, who agent Darren Ferris also represents. Last week, it was reported by EJ Hradek of NHL Network that the 28-year-old will be offered $10 million per season by one team on a new deal. Another report by insider John Shannon indicated that the Holland Landing, ON native will play in one of two places next season, either re-signing with the Panthers or leaving the Sunshine State to play for the Leafs.
Bennett scored a career-high 51 points this season and leads the Panthers with nine goals this postseason. He was Treliving’s first draft pick as General Manager in Calgary in 2014, and played five-plus seasons with the Flames before being traded to Florida for Emil Henneman and a second-round pick in April, 2021. The trade was made in the final year of a two-year bridge deal and after being played out of position and in and out of the lineup by head coach Darryl Sutter, Treliving faced the possibility of losing the rough-and-tumble forward for nothing after the following season as an unrestricted free agent.
The Leafs are going to be looking to reset their club with Marner likely moving on this summer and Tavares re-signing on a budget deal. Bennett could slot in as Toronto’s #2 center, with Tavares either shifting to the wing or moving down to the third line, where he could provide a matchup problem to opposing clubs.
Although it is hard to imagine Bennett leaving Florida’s friendly no state-tax situation and an organization that will make their third straight Cup Final if they beat Carolina on Wednesday, the Panthers cap situation is tight with defenseman Aaron Ekblad and winger Brad Marchand also UFA’s and GM Bill Zito may not be able to match an eight-figure offer from another club with youngster Anton Lundell in position to move up to the second line if Bennett signs elsewhere.
This could be the most exciting offseason we’ve seen in a while. I think both the Panthers and Leafs will look very different next season. Wouldn’t it be interesting if Zito and Treliving team up on another trade? Hear me out, sign and trade of both players!