With news that a mystery forward is biding his time to sign with Toronto, Patrick Kane seems the likeliest fit given that he'd already have signed elsewhere by now.
It was reported that the Maple Leafs still weren't done adding to their lineup and they had a potential top-six forward waiting in the wings just biding their time until the team can open up enough space in order to make another move.
There's a Morgan Rielly deal to be had while other players like Philippe Myers or Dakota Joshua could also see themselves traded at some point this summer.
There's a few players who could fit the role of mysterious forward but one name stands above the rest and when you read into it - it becomes a little more obvious.
Patrick Kane is the only unsigned forward with attachment to the Maple Leafs
Patrick Kane is a name who has been linked heavily to the Maple Leafs for years, as the team was looking to bring him in before he re-signed in Detroit in 2025-26. Well, he's now a free agent and everything we've heard about regarding Kane was that he was looking for a hometown reunion.
That means he needs to head to Buffalo, another team who has been revamping their lineup this summer. While it makes sense that Toronto hasn't signed anyone else yet given their limited contract space and being over the cap, the Sabres have over $5-million to work with and if Kane is going home - then odds are it's at a discount.
So why then hasn't he signed? Is he waiting for Buffalo to make more moves before deciding? He's arguably the top free agent left on the market and a bunch of teams would love to have him, so it's clear he has an end game.
What that is? Who knows, except Kane, his agent and perhaps the Maple Leafs themselves. The report stated the team may already have a deal in place they are just waiting to strike, so it feels like Kane may have already committed to Toronto despite technically being a free agent.
The contract structure favours Toronto if Kane is playing the waiting game
If the player is indeed ol' Patty Kane, then Toronto has a huge advantage right now - time.
Kane clearly has ties to Auston Matthews, but now that Gavin McKenna is in town (and Kane being his favourite player) then maybe Kane's decision is rooted in mentorship just as much as winning a title.
Hearing what McKenna said about Kane too, it seems like a partnership is just begging to be put together:
He's who I grew up watching. I don't know if it was all the YouTube highlights that kind of made me play like him. But, yeah, he's someone I always watched, and just how creative he was and how smart he was. Someone that's just, I don't know, he kind of rubbed off on me, I guess.
He doesn't have a ton of time left, so if he can help teach someone who's projected to play exactly like him then it shows a vast amount of leadership and class to step in.
Even if Toronto isn't able to get rid of money from a Morgan Rielly deal, but get enough to cover a Kane deal then it's going to cut things close but it does allow Toronto to keep Rielly for a future deal (and pray he comes back to form) while adding Kane to the top-six.
Other names like Eeli Tolvanen and Anthony Mantha are still out there, but the former is someone who is more of a middle-six option meanwhile Mantha is streaky and may be looking for a lot more money than he's gonna get.
There's nothing to say that Patrick Kane is indeed the mystery forward waiting to play in Toronto, but of all the players available he makes the most sense.
Plus, it's Patrick Kane - he's earned the right to play where he wants and if Toronto's in his heart, then despite being towards the end of his career has all the time in the world.
Is Patrick Kane the mystery forward who is waiting to sign with Toronto?
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Maple Leafs hire Sabres executive to lead player personnel under John Chayka