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Rebuilding the Leafs' Bottom Six, Part 3: The Final Pieces from Jay |
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Rebuilding the Leafs' Bottom Six, Part 3: The Final Pieces
In this third and final part of our series on rebuilding the Maple Leafs' bottom six, we have two spots left to fill out the third line. Unlike our previous additions, these roles won't be filled via trade or free agency. Instead, the final pieces of the puzzle will come from players already on the Leafs' 50-man roster.
The most critical position in the bottom six is the third-line center. While the Leafs had hoped to fill this role with Scott Laughton, that plan ultimately didn't materialize. This means the Maple Leafs will need to turn to a familiar face to anchor their third line.
John Tavares
John Tavares is no longer the player he was when the Maple Leafs signed him as a highly-coveted unrestricted free agent. While the veteran center has given everything to earn that contract, he is now at a career crossroads. Tavares must decide between finishing his career in his hometown or maximizing his income on one final contract.
If the Leafs hope to seriously compete for a Stanley Cup, moving Tavares to the third line is imperative. This shift would place him in more favorable matchups, allowing his offensive skills to thrive. While Tavares is still a potent scoring threat and one of the best in the league at the faceoff dot, he has lost a step—a reality that will only become more pronounced with age. For this partnership to continue, a long-term, team-friendly deal is the most logical outcome for both parties.
Prediction: 6 Year / $3,750,000 Cap Hit
If Tavares isn't willing to negotiate and instead seeks a deal north of $5,000,000 per year, he'll likely be playing elsewhere, a situation similar to the Steven Stamkos' sweepstakes last summer.
Unlike in previous offseasons, the Maple Leafs must now address holes in their top six, created by the likely departure of Mitch Marner. This makes finding high-value, low-cost players for the bottom six more critical than ever.
Enter top prospect Easton Cowan.
Easton Cowan
From a development perspective, Cowan has done everything the Maple Leafs have asked of him, and then some. After two dominant years in the OHL, the Leafs' top prospect capped off his junior career by winning the Memorial Cup and being named tournament MVP. This came just one season after he captured the league MVP award on the back of a record-breaking point streak in 2024.
Cowan brings a unique combination of skill, compete, and grit. His high ceiling gives him the potential to move up in the lineup, while his above-average skating and offensive abilities make him a perfect candidate to provide secondary scoring. Playing alongside veterans like Jack McBain and Tavares would offer Cowan an ideal opportunity to develop, providing the rookie with both seasoned linemates and on-ice protection.
While there is no guarantee Cowan will remain in the NHL all season, he will be given every opportunity to crack the Leafs' opening night lineup.
This leaves the Maple Leafs' bottom six looking like this:
McBain-Tavares-Cowan
Tanev-Laughton-Jeannot
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