Calle Jarnkrok's time in Toronto appears to be coming to an end

Calle Jarnkrok is likely not sticking around with the Maple Leafs for 2026-27 according to a report from David Pagnotta as the lineup turnover is starting to begin.

Jarnkrok is a veteran who played a lot more than he probably should have during Toronto's miserable 2025-26 season, and was stealing precious minutes away from Easton Cowan. He was ineffective at both ends of the ice, and with the Maple Leafs looking to make drastic lineup changes, he's likely headed elsewhere.

Jarnkrok, 34, had only eight points in 56 games this season but started off hot with three goals in his first three games. We thought we were getting a rejuvenated Jarnkrok after a sports hernia injury kept him to only 19 games in 2024-25 but that wasn't meant to be.

Pagnotta reports Jarnkrok is not expected to return to the Maple Leafs

With the Maple Leafs looking to make several lineup changes and get younger, faster and better overall - the 34-year old is a bit too old for that philosophy. While we heard reports earlier that he had committed to Sweden, that turned out to be more hearsay than anything.

But according to David Pagnotta, while he may not be headed to Sweden; he's not sticking around in Toronto.

Pagnotta reported on May 30th that he believed that Jarnkrok is not going to be back in Toronto with all of their supposed changes in the coming weeks and months:

Pending unrestricted free agent forward Calle Jarnkrok is not expected back.

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While it isn't too surprising, you have to feel a bit for Jarnkrok as he nearly had his career put on hold due to injury, came back hot and then fell off a cliff. There was no real reason behind it, but his consistent spot in the lineup started to make fans question Craig Berube's motives.

But with new management in charge, a brand new head coach coming in and an emphasis on getting a bit tougher, younger, and perhaps more reliable up front; his time is coming to an end.

For what it's worth, Jarnkrok made his debut with Toronto in 2022-23 and put up a 20-goal, 39-point season which was stunning given he was a bottom-six player. But after that he only put up 17 goals and 35 points over his next three seasons.

Jarnkrok leaving opens up cap space and lineup flexibility for the bottom-six

First off, Toronto doesn't have to worry about paying Jarnkrok $2.1-million anymore which is frankly way too much for a player who contributes very little to the lineup and is going to be 35 come next season's start.

But not only does that give them a bit of help financially but it opens up spots for guys who truly deserve it.

Toronto has several AHL names they can use to fill that gap who deserve a look like Luke Haymes and Bo Groulx. They can also go find his cheap replacement over in Sweden in Eskild Bakke-Olsen, a 24-year old two-way centre who plays an exceptional defensive game.

This may not be the first move we see, as they still need to figure out if Troy Stecher is sticking around as well, and in terms of bottom-six, both Nick Robertson and Matias Maccelli need new deals, so depending on price we could see them sent elsewhere or signed to an offer sheet from rival teams.

There's only a couple names who are going to likely be in the same bottom-six as we saw last year like Dakota Joshua and Steven Lorentz, but for the most part we are likely going to see drastically new faces come October.

But we can almost be certain that Jarnkrok won't be back and that may be one of the quietest yet smartest moves John Chayka can make this summer.

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