Four Former Leafs Still Available: Should Toronto Bring Any Back for 2025-26?
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
There are still four former Maple Leafs on the free agent market waiting for a contract, so is it possible the team decides to reunite with one of them?
With time ticking down until the start of training camp, the Maple Leafs still have one or two more things to address before the season kicks off, but they need to do a lot of work if they want to bring someone in.
So what if the team was feeling a bit nostalgic?
Could A Reunion With Former Maple Leafs Be In The Works?
Thanks to an article by Dobber Prospects scout and 6ix On Ice contributor Ryan Ma, there's a chance they could.
Recently, Ma revealed that four former Maple Leafs are on the market: Max Pacioretty, Noah Gregor, TJ Brodie, and Jani Hakanpaa, and delved into whether or not the team should pursue them.
The Likely Signings
Touching on Pacioretty first, Ma explained that while he's towards the end of his career, he's a solid addition to a playoff lineup; and Toronto isn't the only party who could use him:
There probably isn't much hockey left in Pacioretty, as injuries will surely keep him from playing a full season this year.
But, if a team has the cap space and roster spot for him to ease his way through the season, he could be an awesome jolt to the lineup come playoff time.
There were whispers of the Leafs trying to get him back earlier in the summer, but those rumours have since died down. Edmonton is a team that could make sense, but there are lots of organizations that should be trying to land Pacioretty.
But, if a team has the cap space and roster spot for him to ease his way through the season, he could be an awesome jolt to the lineup come playoff time.
There were whispers of the Leafs trying to get him back earlier in the summer, but those rumours have since died down. Edmonton is a team that could make sense, but there are lots of organizations that should be trying to land Pacioretty.
He certainly was a surprise for the Maple Leafs last year, with 8 points in 11 playoff games, but only skated in 37 games for the team after yet another slew of injuries kept him out.
He won't receive anything more than the league minimum but could end up earning a bunch with incentives. The issue is where he would fit in Toronto's lineup now, and it's just too crowded right now to bring in another body.
Reunion Chances: Likely if Toronto can open up space
Gregor appears next, and man, what could have been. A speedy hard-working scorer, he would have been a mainstay for the Maple Leafs' bottom-six had the team re-signed him, but he left for Ottawa where he struggled.
But that's not to say that he can't offer something. In his lone season with the Leafs he had 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists) but also added 147 hits, and only 14 PIM in 63 games.
That's a Craig Berube type player if there ever was one, but his inconsistency can cause issues as Ma brings up, but might be worth taking a flyer on:
Gregor always shows flashes, but can't seem to put it all together. I could definitely see a team lacking forward depth signing him for around league minimum, but that's about it.
Toronto isn't lacking depth, but if they ship out some of their lesser names, there could be a spot for Gregor at some point.
Reunion Chances: Better than you think
The Unlikely Signings
Next up was Brodie, who seemed to get the short end of the stick during his time in Toronto. He was solid, but dropped off quick; something Ma noted may cost him down the line:
Once an anchor of the Leafs blueline and their best shutdown defenceman, his game fell off a cliff two years ago and didn't get any better last year in Chicago.
By the end of the year, Brodie was a healthy scratch, and he only got into 54 games total.
Brodie's decline was tough to watch in Toronto because it happened so fast, and it might keep him out of the league this year.
By the end of the year, Brodie was a healthy scratch, and he only got into 54 games total.
Brodie's decline was tough to watch in Toronto because it happened so fast, and it might keep him out of the league this year.
In his four years with Toronto, Brodie had 82 points in 274 games (8 goals, 74 assists) and was a very good partner for Morgan Rielly until he fell off.
He's also 35 and if he continues to decline, is going to struggle hard to find any time whatsoever, and it may be the end of the line for him soon.
Reunion Chances: No shot
Finally we come to the player who some might argue barely was a Leaf at all, that being Jani Hakanpaa. Skating in two games for the team last year, injuries were a huge issue that were there from the start; and continued for months on end.
Apparently he is healthy now, and could warrant some depth or third-pairing minutes provided his knees hold up and a team is willing to take a chance; but it shouldn't be Toronto.
That experiment failed, and while you don't win them all; you gotta walk away at some point.
Ma believes however that if he can truly be healthy, he might offer the best value of the four:
Well, he basically didn't, and gave the Leafs nothing. It wasn't his fault; he was signed while hurt, but the whole situation was weird. Brad Treliving gambled, but it didn't pay off.
That being said, apparently Hakanpaa is healthy (or as healthy as he can be). He may be slow and injury-prone, but there is still a useful NHL defenceman in there.
He can easily play third-pairing minutes in the right situation, and if he signs a reasonable deal and is actually able to play, that could be a nice contract.
Hakanpaa will have to prove he's capable of playing without injury, but if he can, whoever signs him might get the best value of any of these names.
That being said, apparently Hakanpaa is healthy (or as healthy as he can be). He may be slow and injury-prone, but there is still a useful NHL defenceman in there.
He can easily play third-pairing minutes in the right situation, and if he signs a reasonable deal and is actually able to play, that could be a nice contract.
Hakanpaa will have to prove he's capable of playing without injury, but if he can, whoever signs him might get the best value of any of these names.
It won't be Toronto who signs him, especially with the logjam they already have on defense; but don't be surprised to see him at least entertain a PTO in camp somewhere in order to keep his career chugging.
Reunion Chances: Slim, unless Brad Treliving doubles down
So there you have it, there are four potential former players who could come in, although guys like Gregor and Pacioretty have more general upside so it's possible we see them in blue and white.
What would you do if you were Brad Treliving?
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