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How the Maple Leafs Plan to Replace Mitch Marner's Lost Production


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Austin Kelly
August 28, 2025  (4:13 PM)
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May 5, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (16) skates with the puck before game one of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

With the absence of Mitch Marner in Toronto, the Leafs will have to put everything it can to replace his production on offense, and have their top-six step up in his place.

Toronto didn't replace Marner in free agency, and are banking on a reclamation project in Matias Maccelli to help slot into Marner's spot on the right wing, with Easton Cowan lying in wait to be the long-term solution there.
The Leafs haven't officially closed the door on an acquisition this offseason, although they currently remain quiet and as the preseason nears, appears less and less likely to act in order to get some sort of bigger fish than they have indicated was the team's goal when they acquired Maccelli and offloaded Marner.
Last season, Marner led the Leafs in assists with 75 and points with 102, along with 27 goals. Despite what some online like to say, that sort of production is not easily replaceable.
Toronto will need someone to step up to add to Marner's production and contribute next to Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, and it's one of the most essential things Toronto needs going into next season.

Who Steps Up in Marner's Absence?

For the Toronto Maple Leafs, they need not only a talented player who can bring some more offense to the top-six, but someone who fits in the lineup.
It's not something that's ruled out of William Nylander potentially slotting into the Leafs lineup next to Matthews and Knies on the top-line, but Nylander has played better with John Tavares and for balance may make more sense to keep him there and have the benefit of their chemistry.
Maccelli seems like the most logical internal fit for the Maple Leafs. When he's on, he can be a capable playmaking winger who does well moving the puck and creating scoring chances. The one major question will be if they get the Maccelli who two seasons ago put up 57 points, or the Maccelli who last season put up 18?
It's reasonable to think Maccelli on the top line will outdo his previous production from the season prior, but will need to prove his worth beyond just more points. He is a solid fit as well as a smaller, puck-moving forward next to the goalscoring Matthews and physical Knies, both of whom would allow for Maccelli to play to his strengths.
Toronto could also take a look at players like Nicolas Roy and Max Domi if they're able to take the role on the top-line at wing, but Domi didn't impress with his consistency last season and could struggle. Easton Cowan, while a potential long-term option, is unlikely to win out an NHL roster spot, much less top-six without a strong training camp, he'll likely start in the Marlies but has the offense to eventually get there, even if not right away.
One external option that seems to still exist is free agent forward Jack Roslovic, who has been linked to Toronto but like Domi, has questions over his consistency, while having struggled to be effective last season. Roslovic has been linked with a move outside of the NHL, so him as a potential top-line option is probably far from Toronto's Plan A or even Plan B.

Why Depth Scoring Will Decide Toronto's Season

While the right fit in the Leafs top-six is key, just as essential is that the team is able to find some offense going in the bottom-six as well.
If anything, the Leafs bottom-six offense was the real question mark for Toronto that is facing a major concern. Toronto's leading depth scorer was Nick Robertson with 15 goals, and he looks uncertain to have a future in Toronto and a spot for next season. Bobby McMann, who had 20 goals and 34 points, may be moved down to the third line to add a scoring punch there, battling Max Domi at LW in the middle-six.
Nicolas Roy is another competent goalscorer who should add some solid offensive production on the third line while bringing a physical edge, and Dakota Joshua had 18 goals in the 2023-24 season, the hope being he can get back to double digits.
The lack of a bottom-six goalscorer in the lineup proved costly in the playoffs as the Leafs had little goalscoring coming from their depth. While Marner was the scapegoat, the fact that six forwards went without a goal managed to evade questioning.
Scott Laughton had 11 goals and 27 points before being acquired by Toronto, but shocked with just four points in 20 games. If such a slump continues, Laughton may be canned from the lineup completely.
The Leafs overall need to find ways to produce on offense and get pucks in the net. While a lot of the team's scoring has revolved around Auston Matthews, the rest of Toronto's roster will need to work even harder to get goals and find a consistent offensive drive.
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How the Maple Leafs Plan to Replace Mitch Marner's Lost Production

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