Maple Leafs mailbag: Could Marchand or McDavid come to Toronto?

It’s the questions, y’all. It’s the questions, c’mon. Talkin’ ’bout the questions.

The Toronto Maple Leafs left their fans frustrated and disappointed in Game 7, again. But they also left them curious — about which free agents to chase, about the worthiness of the hot prospect about to turn pro, and about the dream scenario of a Connor McDavid Ontario homecoming one summer from now.

So, let’s dive into the ol’ mailbag and dig into some of the topics rattling around the collective mind of Leafs Nation early this off-season.

Thank you, as always, for reading.

Is it possible the Leafs can pick up Brad Marchand in free agency? He seems to be exactly what they need culture-wise, and he did grow up a Leafs fan. Do you have a sense of if he would come here? Or is he more likely to re-sign with Florida or Boston? —@coltonwarthurs

Anything is possible, Colton. But this one feels like a long shot.

Not that the Maple Leafs couldn’t use another fan these days, and I agree that Marchand’s blend of intensity on the ice and lightness off it would serve the culture well. Be it in Boston or with Team Canada, the man basks in the spotlight.

Moreover, Marchand would capably fill a void as second-line left wing — a turnstile position that saw Pontus Holmberg, Bobby McMann, Max Pacioretty, and others get a look. But no Leaf took hold of that gig.

Marchand kills penalties, makes quick decisions on the power play, and injects offensive upside. (His 51 points in 2024-25 place him ninth among pending UFAs.)

He’s a leader and a fantastic teammate.

He’s fun to interview. He’s smart.

He also — and this is pertinent — wants to get paid at age 37.

Our understanding is that Marchand was not content to go the Joe Pavelski route in Boston. He wants term and a raise up from his current $6.125-million AAV, which turned into a bargain rather quickly.

We envision Marchand’s rental stint in South Florida playing out like Claude Giroux’s (except he has a shot to lift the Cup at the end).

And on July 1 we expect Marchand, a champion once (or twice) over, to get $7 million or more on, say, a three-year contract. That might mean joining a team that’s not considered a top contender. Likely one outside the Atlantic Division.

If that’s Marchand’s price, the Maple Leafs must look elsewhere. They need to get younger, not older.

Should the Leafs take a step back next season to set themselves up for the 2026 free-agent class? The two best players available this year are currently TML. How do you get better if that’s the case? No draft picks, only Easton Cowan as a possible prospect, and no good trade chips. —@AyrshiresTakes

Great points you make, Ayrshire. Which is why I don’t envy Brad Treliving’s challenge this summer.

The Leafs will be hard-pressed to repeat as the Atlantic’s top seed with teams like Montreal and Ottawa getting their act together and Buffalo and Detroit under pressure to spend their way to relevance.

Can they lose Mitch Marner and rack up more than the 108 points they did in 2024-25?

Today, we’re taking the under.

I don’t think Treliving should overpay on the ’25 class this summer; he should save some cap space for ’26, absolutely.

That said, No. 1 centre Auston Matthews is under contract for three more seasons, and the GM has only two years remaining on his own contract.

To outright punt on 2025-26 makes no sense, and Treliving is now under the direct scrutiny of CEO Keith Pelley, whose catchphrase is “Good is not good enough.”

Time to get creative in the trade market and find ways to fill out the forward corps with effective players on shorter-term deals. (Easier said than done, sure.)

Spend John Tavares’s pay cut on Matthew Knies’s raise.

Turn Marner’s $11-million cap space into two or three forwards.

And hope like heck Cowan is the real deal.

Is Cowan as good as he looks in the CHL? Or is it a mirage? —@4thlinewinger

Great question, and one on many Leafs fans’ minds.

I’m turning to the expert here. Jason Bukala, a veteran NHL scout, has watched the top prospect much closer, so I asked for his take.

Here’s Bukala’s guest response to your question:

Cowan’s level of three-zone detail and overall compete needed to be better in the regular season, but he bounced back nicely in playoffs and has returned to form.

He’s above the puck when his group doesn’t have control in the offensive zone and making small-area plays that are above the level.

As far as next season goes, I believe he needs time to further mature in the AHL and continue to evolve his all-round game. Shorter shifts. Even more relentless compete. Roles in all situations.

Right now, I’m projecting Cowan as a middle-six forward BUT he has the skill to potentially become a 2F as he matures. I wouldn’t rush him, though.

Why is the sky blue? —@CowCrypto

Why is water wet? Why did Judas rat to Romans while Jesus slept? Stand up. You’re out of luck, like two dogs stuck. Ironman be sippin’ rum outta Stanley Cups…

What’s it gonna take to land Alexis Lafreniere from New York? —@Marner2Mars

When the New York Rangers flopped from Presidents’ Trophy champs to outside the playoff picture in the clustermess that was 2024-25, insider Larry Brooks assured that stars Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck would both be back — but that “Lafreniere’s future is somewhat uncertain.”

While the 2020 first-overall pick is no stranger to trade rumours, most of us figured those would be put to bed once he signed a seven-year, $52.15-million contract extension in October. (An eight-team no-trade list becomes available to the forward in 2027-28.)

No doubt, GM Chris Drury isn’t shy about trading off the roster. Nor can he be pleased that Lafreniere’s production dropped after getting his pay day. In a year where he was targeted for a breakout, the 23-year-old managed just 17 goals, 45 points, and posted a career-worst minus-13 rating.

We’ve all seen the potential here. Lafreniere was a game-breaking force in the Blueshirts’ run to the 2024 Eastern Conference Final. And if he does hit the market, Drury would want roster help plus a high pick or A-level prospect. Or maybe there’s a hockey trade to be made (think: Pierre-Luc Dubois for Patrik Laine).

My best guess: Drury doesn’t give up on Lafreniere before excellent new coach Mike Sullivan gets a chance to make things work on Broadway. Fresh slates for everyone.

Is there a media ban within the TML organization? You never see current players on podcasts or shows. Or do the players not do them because they get ragged on so much? Is the attitude on doing media a holdover from the Lamoriello regime? —@Bubba_76

You’re correct, Bubba, in noticing that Leafs players don’t appear on radio shows and podcasts as frequently as they once did, that most access is restricted to general availabilities at the rink.

To say there is an outright “media ban” might be a stretch, but podcast and radio producers have had requests denied. The Leafs have made efforts toward load management when it comes to public speaking.

That said, Pelley made some interesting comments on this topic Friday, following the dismissal of Brendan Shanahan. So, I wonder if the reins get loosened in 2025-26, as the CEO recognizes a growing disconnect between the Leafs and their own fans.

“The biggest thing is how our players relate to the fans and, quite honestly, how we relate to the media,” said Pelley, who previously headed up Rogers Media and TSN.

“You know, I understand the importance of the media, having worked in it for so long. We need to embrace the media. We need to embrace the fans. And we need to be out there more. We’re gonna have a full detailed plan, and we’ll work on that in the off-season.”

Urban Hill, Louie Bossi’s, or Neptune? —@joshuakloke

Easy there, Joshua.

Why don’t you ask me to name my favourite child or pick my favourite Juice Crew member while I’m at it?

So, this is a little inside baseball, but one of the greatest perks of beat writing is finding a good meal in a foreign city. Mr. Kloke is a bit of chef de mission, expert at sussing out worthwhile restaurants in NHL towns.

No free ads, but if you happen to be travelling to Salt Lake City, circle Urban Hill. Find yourself in Boston’s North End? The line for Neptune Oyster is worth the wait. And if you’re staying in Fort Lauderdale before a Panthers game, the menu at Louie Bossi’s will make you consider ordering one of everything.

During the ’24 Cup final, I ran into then-Oilers GM Ken Holland at Louie Bossi’s, and he confessed that it was his second dinner in a row there, he loved it so much.

Force my hand: Neptune. Big seafood guy.

Leaf related: What’s the likelihood of McDavid signing in Toronto as a free agent? Non-Leaf related: What’re your top three Griselda projects? —@tonguesplitter

Leaf related: Slim but enticing.

And I do wonder how the potential availability of McDavid — who will prioritize winning over money — impacts how not just Treliving but the other 31 general mangers tackle the 2025 off-season. It’s not a guarantee that No. 97 re-signs in Edmonton, even though the Oilers will present a blank cheque. To not keep an eye on the 2026 UFA class, which also includes Kirill Kaprizov, Kyle Connor, Jack Eichel and Panarin, is to not do your job.

Non-Leaf related: Benny the Butcher’s The Plugs I Met 2, Conway the Machine’s God Don’t Make Mistakes, and Stove God Cook$’s If These Kitchen Walls Could Talk.

Benny got me hooked, then I went through a big Conway phase, and now I scramble to hear everything Stove God drops. He’s like listening to a panic attack.