Kameron Misner's run-saving sliding catch
Can This Maple Leafs' Prospect Become The Highest-Scoring Player In OHL Playoffs History?
Those familiar with Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan know he has a long list of accolades attached to his name. Just last year, he won the OHL Most Outstanding Player (Red Tilson Award) and the OHL Playoffs MVP (Wayne Gretzky 99 Award).
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Maple Leafs rumors: Mitch Marner not expected to return to Toronto in free agency
The post Maple Leafs rumors: Mitch Marner not expected to return to Toronto in free agency appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Toronto Maple Leafs have several key players hitting NHL free agency, and arguably the biggest of them all is Mitch Marner. By the sounds of it, he won't be returning. Advertisement NHL insider Andy Strickland reported Friday that Marner is expected to be playing for a new team in 2025-26: 'Can confirm Mitch Marner will not be returning to Toronto. Will be playing for a new team come next season.' Strickland wrote on X. If this is indeed true, it's not a huge surprise. The Maple Leafs reportedly attempted to trade for Mikko Rantanen at the deadline, offering Marner to the Carolina Hurricanes, but he ultimately remained with the team. Marner has stayed rather quiet on his future, and after Toronto's brutal exit at the hands of the Florida Panthers, he refused to speak on what the next move will be: 'I've always loved my time here. I've loved being here,' Marner said on the team's locker clean-out day. 'Like I said to you guys the other night, I have been so grateful and, you know, haven't processed anything yet. It's still so fresh and losing sucks.' Advertisement 'In the next couple of weeks, I'll sit down with my wife and we'll start talking,' Marner continued. 'Trying to figure out what's next.' Marner decided not to negotiate a new deal with the Maple Leafs during the regular season and instead wanted to wait until free agency. The reality is that many teams will be vying for his signature. The veteran led Toronto in points in 2024-25, scoring 27 goals and tallying 75 assists. While he is a crucial piece for the Maple Leafs, this current core hasn't been able to get the franchise over the hump and make a Stanley Cup. Perhaps they do need a new recipe for success, and that likely won't include Marner. Wherever he ends up, the superstar will secure a major payday. Related: Maple Leafs rumors: Insider calls out John Tavares 'stretch' in contract talks Related: NHL rumors: Pierre LeBrun makes Maple Leafs prediction for Brad Marchand
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4 hours ago
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3 players Maple Leafs must trade in 2025 NHL offseason
The post 3 players Maple Leafs must trade in 2025 NHL offseason appeared first on ClutchPoints. For a ninth straight season, the Toronto Maple Leafs made it to the playoffs. Still, the Maple Leafs would fall to the Florida Panthers in the second round. The team has already made moves this offseason, ousting president Brendan Shanahan. Now the front office has decisions to make to prepare for the upcoming season. Part of that will be opening up salary cap space and replenishing lost draft capital. The Maple Leafs need to make trades in order to make that happen in the 2025 NHL offseason. Advertisement The Maple Leafs have $27.2 million in cap space this offseason. The big question of the summer for the Leafs is the future of Mitch Marner. Reports are circulating that he will not be coming back to Toronto this season. Meanwhile, John Tavares is also a free agent this offseason, along with six other members of the team. Further, there is a lack of draft capital in the stockpile. Toronto does not have a first-round pick for the next three seasons, nor does it have a second-round pick next year. The future for this team is now in flux. With Marner most likely gone, and just four forwards under contract beyond next season, this offseason will be a crossroads for the franchise. They can move a restricted free agent to gain more draft capital and also shed depth on the blue line. Another option is to opt for a retool and trade away a major asset. Toronto trades a restricted free agent With Marner projected to leave the franchise, losing Matthew Knies in restricted free agency may not be the best move for Toronto. That would have Auston Matthews playing with two new linemates next season. Still, other restricted free agents may be worth shipping out of town. Pontus Holmberg is another option, but he found himself playing on the second line in the playoffs. The winger played in a career high 68 games while also playing in 12 of the 13 playoff games. Advertisement The best option for a trade is Nicholas Robertson. Robertson was the subject of trade rumors at the deadline. He was the 53rd pick of the 2019 draft by the Leafs. Prior to this year's campaign, Robertson requested a trade, but would go on to sign a one-year deal with the team. This year, the Canadian scored 15 goals with seven assists in 69 total games. He spent much of the year on the third line. Still, in the playoffs, the forwards would play in just three games and see his ice time limited to just 9:59 per game. This could be an indication that Robertson is not part of the future plans. A move would not save cap space, but would bring in draft capital. An offer sheet would most likely net a third-round pick at best, but the Leafs could work a sign-and-trade that could bring in more assets. The Maple Leafs trade a blue liner Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images Toronto has all six of its top defenders under contract for this upcoming season. Still, the group costs over $24.5 million in cap space this upcoming season. One solid option would be to trade Morgan Rielly. Rielly was playing on the second rotation during the playoffs, and at a cost of $7.5 million at age 31, trading Rielly would bring back valuable assets and create cap space. Still, the D-man has a no-movement clause. He has said he does not want to be moved from Toronto, which would complicate trading the blue liner away. Advertisement Still, Oliver Ekman-Larsson has a modified no-trade clause. It is a 16-team no-trade list this season, but that still leaves 15 other NHL teams for the Leafs to potentially work a deal with. He will turn 34 before the start of the season, and cost $3.5 million per year over the next three seasons. The Swede signed a four-year contract with Toronto before the start of this past campaign. It was a solid season for Ekman-Larsson, as he scored four goals and had 25 assists. Further, he logged 21:04 of ice time per game in the regular season this year, the most since the 2021-22 season with the Canucks. Still, his ice time dropped in the playoffs, and he was relegated to the third rotation towards the end of their run. The Leafs have multiple players in the AHL system that seem primed to jump to the NHL level, so moving a blue liner is necessary for the franchise. The best option is trading off OEL. Trading William Nylander would be a nuclear move While the first two moves would prepare Toronto for this season, there is the potential that they will go for a total rebuild. Trading Nylander would be a major step in making a complete overhaul of the roster. Trading the winger could be difficult. He has a no-movement clause, and therefore would need to sign off on any deal involving his movement. Still, if the Leafs are making a total roster transformation, getting him to sign off may not be difficult. It would also be a perfect time for the sale. Advertisement Nylander just completed his third straight season playing all 82 games, and he has missed just one game in the last four years. Further, he just had his third straight 40-goal campaign, setting a career high with 45 goals. Nylander would instantly improve any offense, and teams would gladly pay a premium for him. Mikko Rantanen was traded for two first-round picks, two third-round picks, and Logan Stankoven when he was moved from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Dallas Stars. It is possible that Toronto would get a similar return, providing the draft capital they need. Further, this would clear $11.5 million in cap space. While it would not make sense to bring back Marner if they are going for the rebuild, this could be used to lock up players they feel are important for the future. This would be a nuclear option for the Leafs. Still, with the expectation that the 2026 NHL Draft will be filled with depth, making moves to secure draft capital for that draft could be helpful long-term for Toronto. The decision-makers for the Leafs need to decide how they are moving into the future. Still, Toronto is flush with trade options, but standing pat is not an option this summer.
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4 hours ago
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NHL rumors: Mitch Marner considering 2 year contract
The post NHL rumors: Mitch Marner considering 2 year contract appeared first on ClutchPoints. NHL free agency is just over a week away, and longtime Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner is the headliner in 2025. The 28-year-old, who just played out the final season of a six-year deal he signed back in 2019, is widely expected to hit the open market. Advertisement Although Marner has been one of the league's best regular season players, his notorious postseason struggles — along with Toronto's playoff futility — signal that a change of scenery is probably in order for the former 102-point scorer. And while it's expected that the Markham, Ontario native will sign a long-term deal sometime in July, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun shared a different opinion on Saturday. 'The rumor du jour — and it is very much that, as I've not confirmed it but have heard it now from two teams — is that one option Mitch Marner is considering is a two-year deal at around $12 million to $13 million per year, positioning him to hit the market again when the salary cap skyrockets to $113 million or higher in a couple of years,' the hockey insider wrote. Mitch Marner likely headed to Western Conference 'The risk is injury, of course, but at 28 now, he would be 30 when he is a UFA again if he went that route,' LeBrun continued. 'The Vegas Golden Knights, the Dallas Stars and the Los Angeles Kings are among the teams that I believe are high on Marner's list. The Stars would be a long-shot fit given their financial commitment to Mikko Rantanen, but never say never.' Advertisement Marner earned $10.6 million in each of the last six seasons, and averaged over a point-per-game in every one of them. It's certain he will be getting a raise, and with that comes heightened expectations. Multiple insiders have speculated that Marner won't re-sign in the Eastern Conference; specifically, the Atlantic Division. Although the Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly planning to make a huge push for the Canadian, he's also been linked to the Golden Knights, Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks, among others. A player of Marner's caliber is not often available on the free agent market, and all eyes in the hockey world will be on the superstar forward when free agent frenzy kicks off on July 1. It'll be intriguing to see where Marner eventually ends up, and whether he can reverse his playoff fortunes and play for a Stanley Cup with his new team. Related: Leafs rumors: Toronto 'engaged' in Matthew Knies, John Tavares negotiations Related: 3 players Maple Leafs must trade in 2025 NHL offseason
