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JAY ON LEAFS: Who Can Fill the Void? 4 Potential Free Agent Targets

July 1, 2025, 2:21 PM ET [13 Comments]
Puck Pix
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In the final 24 hours ahead of free agency, Monday saw a flurry of signings and trades as teams looked to solidify their rosters. With several big names set to test the market, the Florida Panthers secured contracts with both Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights completed a sign-and-trade for Mitch Marner, removing the top three names from the free-agent board.

The Maple Leafs locked in Steven Lorentz for three more years and acquired Matias Maccelli in a trade with the Utah Mammoths. With only a few hours remaining before free agency officially begins, let's review a few of the options the Leafs could target.

Nikolaj Ehlers
With the loss of Marner, the Maple Leafs need to find a way to generate offense. That need would be immediately filled by Ehlers, who has scored 20 or more goals in eight of his ten seasons. Ehlers also brings an edge to his game, much-needed speed, and the ability to transport the puck. While the fit for Ehlers is there, it is likely the Leafs will be outbid, with Ehlers potentially ending up somewhere like Carolina

Christian Dvorak
Depth scoring has been an issue for the Leafs for years, and adding someone like Dvorak could help solve that problem. In seven of his nine NHL seasons, Dvorak has hit double digits in goals while exceeding 28 points in each of those campaigns. Dvorak is familiar with playing in a major market like Toronto and could be a good fit.

Jonathan Drouin
After seemingly losing his confidence in Montreal, Drouin has managed to rediscover his game in Colorado over the last two seasons. In 122 games with the Avalanche, Drouin logged 93 points, breathing new life into his career. Drouin is a pass-first center who could provide a second-line option for Toronto, but his defensive issues might be too much for the Leafs to overlook.

Tanner Jeannot
Jeannot decided to leave the LA Kings to test free agency this summer in search of a larger role. His physical style of play and willingness to go to the front of the net would make him a great addition to the Maple Leafs' third line. Playing next to a player like John Tavares could help reignite his offensive punch. Some reports suggest that Jeannot could get up to $3 million on the open market.

With many other options available, it will be interesting to see how Brad Treliving and the Leafs look to finalize their roster. With their goaltending and defense locked in, where the Leafs go from here will surely be something to watch.
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