Chris Johnston: Maple Leafs Need to Take a Step Back Next Season
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
NHL Insider Chris Johnston believes the best way for Toronto to move forward in the wake of Mitch Marner leaving is they need to take a step back first.
There's no doubt the Maple Leafs are going to be a much different team come the 2025-26 season.
Not only are they going to likely lose Mitch Marner, but there's the potential that John Tavares heads out as well, and what of Matthew Knies' future?
Time is of the essence and while we've heard good things about Tavares and Knies, nothing has been signed yet. It's going to be frustrating for fans especially with how much hope there was this year, but it's just a bit of growing pains.
At least, that's what NHL Insider Chris Johnston believes.
Toronto Needs To Step Back In Order To Move Forward
According to Johnston, who was speaking on TSN's FirstUp program, talked about the future of the team and where it can be without Marner.
He started with a few names the team could bring in as a potential Marner replacement if they wanted to:
Tough to say. Look, if you're talking about Tavares not coming back in addition to Marner, you're looking for two centers and at least one top-six - top-three - winger. That's a lot of shopping to get done.
You've got goal scorers like Ehlers and Boeser. You've got a forwards like Sam Bennett who brings intangibles.
You've got Tavares and Marner obviously at the top. But pretty quickly, you get into the Matt Duchene, Brock Nelson territory - older players. Definitely effective players that, put in the right situation, but you get a little nervous.
You've got Brad Marchand lurking around there. And then after that, it's hard to find guys that are going to pop.
To me, if you're the Leafs, you're probably going to try to go after some of the older guys that you can maybe get on a one-year deal, maybe a two-year deal.
You've got goal scorers like Ehlers and Boeser. You've got a forwards like Sam Bennett who brings intangibles.
You've got Tavares and Marner obviously at the top. But pretty quickly, you get into the Matt Duchene, Brock Nelson territory - older players. Definitely effective players that, put in the right situation, but you get a little nervous.
You've got Brad Marchand lurking around there. And then after that, it's hard to find guys that are going to pop.
To me, if you're the Leafs, you're probably going to try to go after some of the older guys that you can maybe get on a one-year deal, maybe a two-year deal.
That's certainly a big step down from Marner, and while adding a player like Nelson or Duchene would certainly add some much needed pop to their top-six, they aren't spring chickens, and are only going to get older.
Which is why Johnston believes that Toronto needs to cut their losses, and admit to themselves this year is going to hurt, and focus on living life without Marner:
I think the best approach is if you can take a small step back next year without Mitch Marner. I think we should acknowledge that. I still think the Leafs have the players to be a playoff team.
They've got their entire blue line already signed. And they've got a goaltending duo that performed at a high level this year with Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz both signed.
And you still have Matthews, Nylander, and a bunch of other guys. So you've got the shell of a really good team.
They've got their entire blue line already signed. And they've got a goaltending duo that performed at a high level this year with Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz both signed.
And you still have Matthews, Nylander, and a bunch of other guys. So you've got the shell of a really good team.
It's not all a loss according to Johnston, and knowing the team has the star power still to make a playoff run should give fans a bit of a breather.
Toronto's Future Is Bright, But No Pain Means No Gain
Johnston did have some hope for the fans though, and while it doesn't concern the 2025-26 season, it does involve the Summer of 2026 and what lies in store, something better than Marner:
Next year might be a step back. But in summer 2026, there's the possibility for all kinds of stuff league-wide.
I think the most prudent strategy is to patch some of those holes on shorter-term deals - whether that's chasing a Marchand, a Patrick Kane, a Jamie Benn, Claude Giroux maybe.
Let's see who actually hits the market. But I think there's an argument to be made that that's the best first step in moving on from what you might do without Marner's money.
Then you've got to look at some longer-term solutions that hopefully present themselves the following summer.
I think the most prudent strategy is to patch some of those holes on shorter-term deals - whether that's chasing a Marchand, a Patrick Kane, a Jamie Benn, Claude Giroux maybe.
Let's see who actually hits the market. But I think there's an argument to be made that that's the best first step in moving on from what you might do without Marner's money.
Then you've got to look at some longer-term solutions that hopefully present themselves the following summer.
Long-term solutions include potentially Nikita Kucherov, Cale Makar, Kirill Kaprizov, and a little-known player named Connor McDavid.
So yeah, while 2025 free agency might sting for the Leafs, they have more than enough money come next summer to make a gigantic, franchise-altering splash.
While they say you gotta spend money to make money, the best thing the Maple Leafs can do is save, save, save.
We've dealt with a LOT worse. One year without Marner, leading to a potential McDavid signing is well worth the pain.
| POLL | ||
MAI 27 | 443 ANSWERS Chris Johnston: Maple Leafs Need to Take a Step Back Next Season Will the Maple Leafs take a step back next season or will they stay competitive? | ||
| They will regress | 127 | 28.7 % |
| They will compete | 316 | 71.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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