Maple Leafs' Center Options Shift After Key NHL Contract Update

There are a lot of discussions around the Toronto Maple Leafs and who they may potentially bring in to shore up their top-six in the wake of Mitch Marner's departure.

Linked to several high-profile names, there's no shortage of options though they do range from fairly cost-effective to downright ludicrous, as we see teams trying to maximize their returns if they decide to part with some premium targets.

One of those is Marco Rossi, a restricted free agent who is looking for a new deal, and is currently at an impasse with the Minnesota Wild. An incredible addition to any team, Rossi would cost a lot but not, is he worth it.

However if the Maple Leafs wanted to take a stab at acquiring him, they either need to blow GM Bill Guerin away or find a new choice. According to reports, Rossi and the Wild are close to getting a deal finalized, with it likely being short-term.

That means that Toronto played their cards right when it comes to Matthew Knies, and avoiding a bridge deal with him allows them to keep him in the fold a lot longer than Rossi might be in Minnesota.

But if he's getting a fair price, that also means if Toronto's restricted free agents explode offensively this season, they are going to want just as lucrative a deal.

Take Matias Maccelli, a player who is expected to break out with the Maple Leafs, which would raise his cost to $5-million or above for the next 5-6 years; if the team wants to add some prime free agents they need to see if they can afford both and still have a competitive lineup.

The plans for Toronto seem to hinge on whatever happens in 2026's free agency, as they need to decide whether to splurge on a player or not.

If the team somehow has a chance at Connor McDavid, there's a strong possibility he earns upwards of $18-million per season, which would nearly destroy Toronto's cap with a lot of pieces to fill.

Is it worth letting players like Maccelli and Nick Robertson walk even after a potential strong season, just in the hopes of landing that prime target that far too often eludes them?

Deciding what to do this season with Maccelli and Robertson will hinge on their production, but if either man truly breaks out then it's a double-edged sword for Toronto; sure they have a solid young piece but it'll cost them a lot to keep them, and might be out of luck for a top player.

So we'll need to see how Rossi's deal turns out, because it could be a great indicator of what to expect from Toronto's players this time next year.