There are six former Maple Leafs who are currently free agents and while it's not a call to reunite with the team, we're here to break down who could be getting a job.
Currently the free agent pool has been drained a fair bit though there are still some names out there who could help teams.
Michael Bunting, James van Riemsdyk, John Klingberg, James Reimer, Ryan Reaves and Matt Murray are all players who offer some type of assistance be it goal-scoring, goaltending, defence, or fitting in a leadership role, though as roster space shrinks and teams get closer and closer to the salary cap limit, it's going to be harder for these players to find the perfect deal
Coincidentally, all six players are former Maple Leafs and the purpose of this article isn't to argue who should come back (though one may be of interest) but to instead see who may be next in line to sign, perhaps find themselves on a PTO, or try and find one last chance at continuing their career.
*All players will be ranked by odds of signing an NHL deal - Very Likely, Likely, Has Potential, and No Chance*
Bunting and van Riemsdyk still offer defined NHL roles yet remain unsigned
Bunting, 30, had a pretty solid season in 2025-26 with 14 goals and 33 points in 74 games though the majority of the offence came in Nashville before he was traded at the deadline to the Dallas Stars (where he only had two points in 13 games).
While not a premier offensive option, Bunting does have multiple 20-goal seasons and while he's a different player without Auston Matthews by his side, Bunting has been consistently able to add scoring wherever he goes, though don't expect him to add a ton of defensive help.
Of all the players that could be signed, Bunting is one of the younger ones at 30 and his previous $4.5M cap hit won't come near what his new deal will be, so he could be a fairly cheap option that gives you 15+ goals and power-play help and it's very likely he'll sign a deal shortly as teams figure out last minute additions.
With Toronto seeking top-six help, and Bunting's familiarity with Matthews already, he could be an option for John Chayka before the seasons starts.
Contract Odds: Very Likely
van Riemsdyk, 37, had 31 points in 72 games for the Red Wings in 2025-26 and has been one of the most consistent power forwards in the league. Still able to be a strong net-front presence and someone who can add a boatload of experience and leadership, van Riemsdyk always seems to find a job.
The 17-year veteran has 696 points (342 goals) in 1,154 games while adding 101 power-play goals and 176 total points on the PP. He was somewhat linked to the Maple Leafs after they posted a video of him on social media as a tease for fans, but nothing concrete has come out.
He'd certainly add some help to the PP and give the team another net front presence besides Matthew Knies, and they offer him a strong chance at competing.
Even signing on a PTO like Max Pacioretty did could be a great way to get into the lineup and provide some extra help up front for cheap. It worked out once before and very well could again with JVR.
Contract Odds: Very Likely
Reaves, Klingberg, Reimer, and Murray are all veterans facing a shrinking path back to the NHL
Reaves, 39, is certainly in the twilight of his career, and the type of player he is has essentially been eliminated. There's very little need for true enforcers in today's game, and Reaves doesn't offer much else on the ice.
He had three goals in 50 games last season with San Jose, but over his past three seasons has only 11 points, a minus-27, and averaging a paltry 7:55 TOI. The one facet he offered was physicality (428 hits) and while he tried his best to become an agitator, he was rebuffed at every turn.
He's 38 games away from reaching 1,000 career regular season games which is a milestone that is quite impressive especially given that Reaves is more one-dimensional than most players.
But unless you're a team looking for a heartwarming story in 2026-27, Reaves won't really give you much and is unlikely to really move the needle - and he takes away a potential spot for a younger player too.
Though, with the chance to reach that key milestone, teams may pick him up for sentimental reasons but it's unlikely that Toronto is one of them.
Contract Odds: Has Potential
Klingberg, 33, enjoyed a resurgent 2025-26 campaign in San Jose where he put up 10 goals and 27 points in 56 games. Prior to that, Klingberg dealt with injuries that saw him suit up for only 25 games in 2023-24 and 2024-25 where he still put up nine points.
The offensive side of Klingberg's game has never been an issue, and had he not dealt with those injury issues, he very well could still be putting up 40-50 points a season. But it's the defence that's the issue, and if Klingberg can't replicate his 2025-26 season then it's going to be rough for whoever signs him.
Teams are going to understand the risk they take signing Klingberg given his defensive woes and injury history, but he's shown that he can still add offence when healthy, and a PTO may be the avenue he goes down.
Toronto needs a puck-mover again but with the ghost of Jani Hakanpaa haunting them still, perhaps the team is going to take a pass on another previously injured blueliner.
Contract Odds: Has Potential
Reimer, 38, came in last year as insurance for the Ottawa Senators and put up a decent year as a backup. He went 7-4-2 with a 2.42 GAA but an .886 SV%, so it was a bit of a mixed bag stats-wise.
Far removed from his best seasons in Toronto and Florida, Reimer can still provide third-string help and is a great 'in case of emergency' goaltender. There's a reason he's stuck around this long and managed to play with eight different teams in his career.
With over 200 career wins, a .909 SV% and a 2.87 GAA, Reimer has proven throughout his career to at the very least be a stable and reliable option in net, but much like last year it may be a bit before he signs a deal, and Toronto could be an option if they're worried about Anthony Stolarz's health.
Contract Odds: Has Potential
Murray, 32, is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion who at one point was one of the top goalies in the NHL. From 2017-2020 he put up a 108-51-18 record with a .913 SV% and a 2.71 GAA, but after leaving Pittsburgh, kind of got lost in the shuffle.
After two mediocre years in Ottawa, he came over to Toronto in 2022-23 and helped solidify the backend a bit and putting up 14 wins - his most since 2019-2020. But he quickly became an AHL starter and went to Seattle last year.
He's certainly not a bad backup option and has been a durable option for his career however did deal with some injury issues towards the latter half of his career. If he can stay healthy, then teams could use him as insurance while also adding a proven winner to the mix and much like Reimer, could be help if Stolarz goes down.
Contract Odds: Likely
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a few old friends kicking around the free agent market and while names like Bunting, van Riemsdyk, and Murray are more than likely going to find contracts in due time - Reaves, Klingberg, and Reimer may need some luck on their side to get a deal done.
Which former Maple Leafs would you like to see Toronto reunite with?
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