Two Potential Signings the Maple Leafs Must Make to Replace Mitch Marner and John Tavares
Photo credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images
Brad Treliving has two potential key free agents the Maple Leafs should sign to help replace John Tavares and Mitch Marner this summer.
As Toronto looks ahead to next season, they will need to replace Mitch Marner for sure, and potentially John Tavares; two huge holes in the lineup if they were to depart in free agency.
Which is why they should bite the bullet and make a big splash for not only Sam Bennett this summer, but Nikolaj Ehlers too.
Why Sam Bennett Is the Gritty Top-Six Forward the Maple Leafs Desperately Need
A huge part of why Florida is headed once again to the Stanley Cup Finals, Bennett would give Toronto something they have lacked for awhile now; a no-nonsense, physical and sometimes nasty type of player.
Not afraid to always try and gain an upper hand, Bennett has been instrumental in frustrating opponents mentally, physically, and on the scoresheet.
Bennett has 16 points so far this postseason, and for a player who has never hit 60 points in a regular season; he has 45 points over the last three playoffs, and is creating some of the better chances the Panthers have had through the first three rounds.
Transitioning seamlessly into Craig Berube's system, Bennett could bring a new voice and mindset to the team, and perhaps help sway them into becoming just a bit more vicious when the time calls for it.
The issue is his contract, where he might end up making upwards of $10M, so while it would certainly be an overpayment in some fans' eyes; he offers more than Mitch Marner when it matters, and still ends up being cheaper.
Nikolaj Ehlers Could Bring Speed and Scoring Punch the Leafs Will Miss Without Marner
Speaking of Marner, who better to replace him than the quiet and under appreciated Ehlers?
As consistent as they come, he's averaged 22.5 goals and 52 points for his career, and while he won't be a 100-point demon like Marner, he's remarkably consistent.
He's only missed the 20-goal mark twice in his career, plays solid defense, is an underrated playmaker and can make a difference on the power play (something Marner had issues with at times).
While he doesn't have much playoff experience (45 games), this most recent postseason with the Jets, Ehlers scored seven points in eight games and his five goals would have tied him with Tavares and Matthew Knies.
He'll be a bit more expensive than his former $6M deal, however Toronto should lock him in for the next 4-5 years at $7.5-8M and create a solid core of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Bennett, Ehlers, and Matthew Knies.
Does that make the team contenders overnight? Not necessarily, and they still need to make it through the regular season gauntlet first.
But adding the postseason's biggest game changer over the last three years, and an unassuming, but potent point producer to help stop the bleeding of Marner?
Seems like they have as good a shot as they ever have.
| POLL | ||
MAI 31 | 606 ANSWERS Two Potential Signings the Maple Leafs Must Make to Replace Mitch Marner and John Tavares Should Toronto sign both Nikolaj Ehlers and Sam Bennett this summer? | ||
| Yes | 355 | 58.6 % |
| No | 90 | 14.9 % |
| Only Bennett | 109 | 18 % |
| Only Ehlers | 52 | 8.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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