NHL Insider Drops Maple Leafs Plan to Land Panthers Stars originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Toronto Maple Leafs roster could look very different come next season. With multiple key players entering free agency, the Maple Leafs front office should be hectic this summer.
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The Maple Leafs will need to replace any production that leaves, and this could create a very active offseason. The team has already been linked with a few players, and the offseason can now fully get going.
According to Nick Kypreos of the Toronto Star, the Maple Leafs are planning to make a run at some of the stars of the Florida Panthers. Toronto is eyeing Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad this summer.
If the Maple Leafs were to land any of these players, it could be a game-changer. Each would bring different pieces to the team, with Marchand likely being the biggest fish.
Even at his age, Marchand has still been able to produce very heavily, especially in the playoffs. In the playoffs, Marchand scored 10 goals and 10 assists over 23 games, as he helped the Panthers claim another Stanley Cup title.
Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) scores a goal and celebrates with defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period in game two of the second round of the…Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Bennett is expected to stay with the Panthers, especially after his strong postseason run. But Ekblad could be the long man out.
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It has been rumored that Florida would allow the defenseman to test the open market, and that could open the door for the Maple Leafs. Ekblad would dramatically improve the Toronto defense, something that struggled against Florida in the postseason.
No matter what the Maple Leafs do, the goal is a title. The front office will need to get creative, but it could come at a price.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.