Latest news with #MatthewKnies
National Post
5 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Leafs GM Brad Treliving wants Matthew Knies contract done 'as soon as possible'
Article content Brad Treliving fell back on a common wish on Thursday. Article content Article content In the case of re-signing Matthew Knies, however, you know the Maple Leafs general manager meant it. Article content 'I say this all the time: I'd like to get it done as soon as possible,' Treliving said, then added jokingly: 'Usually, term and money are the only two issues that come into play on contract negotiations.' Article content That truth aside, no wonder Treliving wants to get Knies' signature on a new contract sooner rather than later. Article content Article content The 22-year-old winger took a major step in his National Hockey League career in 2024-25, establishing himself as a true top-line winger with 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games. Article content A restricted free agent, Knies made it clear last week he wants to remain with the Leafs when he was asked about the possibility of entertaining an offer sheet from another team. Article content Article content If talks haven't yet become serious between Treliving and Knies' agent, Matt Federico, they will in short order. Article content 'I thought Matthew had a tremendous year,' Treliving said. 'We're seeing him evolve in front of our eyes. It's a big step for a young player to become a really important player. He became a really important player.' Article content Would Treliving prefer a long-term contract with Knies, or is he OK with a bridge deal? A seven-year pact in the range of $7 million to $8 million US a season could make both sides happy. Article content Article content 'We'll see,' Treliving said. 'There are two parties. I think Matthew is just scratching the surface. We have to see what fits for us, what fits for them. I see him as a long-term player here. Article content Article content 'You'd always like to sign them all for as longest and as lowest as you can. He's a hell of a player and we're working on it.' Article content Article content Treliving acknowledged that Knies 'muscled through' an injury after being hurt in Game 6 of the second round against the Florida Panthers, but wasn't specific on what ailed Knies after a hit on Panthers defenceman Niko Mikkola. Article content Matthews missed nine games in November and six in December/January with an ailment that has not been disclosed. In November, he travelled to Germany to see a specialist. Article content 'He worked through it,' Treliving said. 'It's not a case of us saying 'Auston, get out there and make it worse.' Article content 'He got time (to recover). When we said (initially) it was day to day, we really believed that. Article content 'When he came back and started playing from times off, it was better. There would be times where it would flare up. He was able to play with it. It wasn't something we felt that by playing he was going to put himself in a really bad position, short or long term.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'A Big Part Of The Future Moving Forward': Why Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Is Confident In Re-Signing RFA Matthew Knies
Nine days after Matthew Knies admitted his desire to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs beyond this season, Toronto general manager Brad Treliving said the same. The 22-year-old, set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, had a career year with the Maple Leafs, scoring 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games. He added five goals and two assists for Toronto through 13 playoff games. "I'd like to get [the contract] done as soon as possible," Treliving said on Thursday. "Usually, term and money are the only two issues that come into play on contract negotiations." When Knies stepped in front of the cameras on May 20, a few days after Toronto's playoff elimination at the hands of the Florida Panthers, he said his best chance to win was with the Maple Leafs. As an RFA, however, there's the chance Knies could receive an offer sheet from another NHL team if he's not signed by July 1. Knies, though, would have to agree to the contract for Toronto to have to match it. From what the forward said on locker cleanout day, it doesn't appear he wants to go down that route. "I want to be here. I want to play here," he said. "That's all that really matters to me." 'It's The Best Chance For Me To Win': Matthew Knies Addresses Short-Term Future With Maple Leafs Matthew Knies wants to be a part of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the long haul. What could the contract look like, though? "We'll see. Like I said, there's two parties here. I think Matthew's still just scratching the surface. So we've got to see what fits for us, what fits for them," Treliving said. "But I see him as a long-term player here. I'm not trying to be elusive. You'd always like to sign them all for the longest and as lowest as you can. He's a hell of a player, and we're working on it." There was a lot of growth for Knies away from the puck, too. He's becoming someone who can be relied upon in all situations for Toronto. Not just on the top line and the power play, but also on the penalty kill. What's most improved from the power forward is how he's used his massive 6-foot-3, 227-pound frame. Brad Treliving Explains Auston Matthews' Injury Management And Why He's Not Concerned About The Maple Leafs Star's Health Next Season Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving met with reporters Thursday morning for his end-of-season media availability, where one of the key topics of discussion was centered on star forward Auston Matthews – and the injury that plagued the star forward all season long. "We're sort of seeing him evolve in front of our eyes. It's a big step for a young player to become a really important player, right? Like you can be a good player and have a role. He became a really important player," Treliving said. "Matthew had an injury in game six, muscled through it. That wasn't 100 percent Matthew Knies in game seven, right? Like he was muscling through it. But I thought he was really good." Knies' return to the Maple Leafs is all but certain, unless something drastic occurs over the next few weeks and into July 1. The player said it, and so did Toronto's GM. Now, it's just a matter of how much money Knies will get and how long the contract will be. "For a guy who hasn't been through that, this is his second full year. I thought he was really good. He was an impactful player," Treliving said. "Matthew's a big part of the future moving forward." Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
New York Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Maple Leafs 2025-26 roster decisions: Who stays and who goes this offseason?
By Jonas Siegel, Chris Johnston, Joshua Kloke and James Mirtle It's that time of year for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The time when GM Brad Treliving and his front office must decide who will be a Leaf next season — and who won't. Here we put on our prognosticator hats and suss out where everybody stands. Advertisement Matthew Knies: Coming off a 29-goal season, the top-line winger has been mentioned prominently as an offer-sheet candidate this summer. However, it's hard to see the Leafs letting it get to that. Knies is viewed internally as an important part of the team's present and future — a big, powerful player who still has room to grow into a more complete contributor. It's worth noting that the Leafs didn't want to part with him when his name was tossed out as part of trade conversations with the Carolina Hurricanes about Mikko Rantanen at the deadline. Knies is also eager to stay in Toronto, with the only real question being whether he gets a long-term second NHL contract or a shorter bridge deal. Auston Matthews: It was a deeply frustrating season for the Leafs captain, basically from start to finish. Hurt in training camp with an undisclosed upper-body injury, Matthews clearly wasn't himself for long stretches of 2024-25, and his goal production dropped by more than half (from 69 to 33) while missing 15 games. He expects to be 100 percent by the fall, which would be a big boost for Toronto, given that not all the stars will likely return. Matthews turns 28 in September and has three years remaining on a contract with a full no-movement clause. He's not going anywhere; the Leafs simply have to hope he's back to the player he was before this troubled campaign. Jake McCabe: With a five-year contract extension that McCabe signed in October about to take effect, he's not going anywhere. McCabe spent much of the season forming a strong defensive pairing with Chris Tanev and profiles as one of the team's key figures entering next year. If anything, the Leafs did well to lock him up early, given how challenging it would have been to find an adequate replacement on the open market. McCabe's new deal features a full no-trade clause for the next two seasons. William Nylander: All told, Nylander put together a strong season. He led the Leafs with a career-high 45 goals during the regular season and topped them with 15 points in the playoffs. Like others, he needed a much punchier finish to the second round against Florida. Nylander turned 29 at the beginning of May. Next season will be the second of the eight-year extension he signed with the Leafs early in 2024. Advertisement Oliver Ekman-Larsson: The big Swede was one of the Leafs' pleasant surprises this season, logging minutes (21:04 per game, third among defencemen) all over the blue line — playing on all three pairs, on LD and RD, power play and penalty kill. He will turn 34 this summer, but after a career maligned by various injuries, he looked like a new player. On a reasonable contract that pays just $3.5 million for three more seasons, OEL is a keeper. Anthony Stolarz: Just a quick reminder, Stolarz's .926 save percentage was tops in the NHL among goalies with at least 30 games played. If the Leafs can get a similar level of shot-stopping and swagger from him over, say, 50 games next season, his $2.5 million contract could become one of the best in the league. Chris Tanev: Tanev deserves an entire summer split between an ice bath and a beach far away somewhere after the amount of pucks and pain he ate in his first season in Toronto. He is equal parts a rock and a warrior on the Leafs' back end and is the kind of defenceman no NHL team would say no to. It wouldn't be surprising for him to wear a letter next season. Joseph Woll: Next season, Woll will begin the three-year extension ($3.66 million cap hit) he signed with the Leafs last summer. He figures to split the net once again with Stolarz. Simon Benoit: Benoit had an effective playoff run for the Leafs, with moments when he looked like one of the team's better defencemen. And for the low, low price of just $1.35 million next season, it seems likely that Benoit will be back in Craig Berube's top six. The only way it might not happen is if a young blueliner steps up and steals his job in training camp. Even then, those odds feel low. Brandon Carlo: Even if he wasn't at his best in the playoffs, Carlo is still a 6-foot-5 right-shot defenceman who can quiet things down to a whisper in his own zone. And with two years left on his contract — with the Leafs only on the hook for a $3.485 million cap hit — Carlo provides the stability the team covets on its back end. Advertisement Pontus Holmberg: There isn't a good reason for the Leafs not to qualify the pending RFA this summer and keep him around next season. (Holmberg does have arbitration rights.) He has real offensive limitations, yes, but he's versatile, low-maintenance, young-ish and able to play just about anywhere in the lineup in a pinch. Scott Laughton: Yes, Laughton's two goals in 20 regular-season games and zero goals in 13 playoff games sting. Yes, he didn't play as well as he would have hoped after being traded to his hometown team at the deadline. But yes, after an offseason to feel more comfortable on just the second team of his NHL career and to get his young family settled in Toronto, it's a safe bet for him to emerge in a more prominent role next season. Playing into the third line for just a $1.5 million cap hit would be a boon for the Leafs, too. Bobby McMann: McMann had a super disappointing finish to the season, failing to score or contribute much of anything in the playoffs. This comes after a regular season that saw him pop with 20 goals but also struggle to perform consistently. McMann turns 29 in June. At this point, he feels more like someone better suited for third-line duty, which is totally fine for the $1.35 million cap hit he'll earn in the last year of his contract next season. Philippe Myers: At best, he'll be the Leafs' seventh (and possibly, eighth) defenceman for the next couple of seasons thanks to the two-year extension ($850,000 cap hit) he signed in January. He performed more than adequately in that role last season. Ryan Reaves: Will Reaves be a Leaf next season? It's hard to rule it out completely given how highly he's regarded in the dressing room — and of course, that he still has one year left on his three-year contract. Reaves played AHL games for the first time in more than a decade this past spring, and on merit, that's where he belongs next season. It's just a question of whether the Leafs will make that choice or keep him around as a 12th or 13th forward. Morgan Rielly: It was a bumpy first season for Rielly under Berube, and the fit between player and coach moving forward remains a tad awkward. With that said, Rielly has five years left on a contract that carries a full no-movement clause. The Leafs could try to force his hand with a trade, but there's been no indication that he has any interest in playing anywhere but Toronto. John Tavares: All that matters to Tavares at this point in his career is chasing the Stanley Cup, and he doesn't believe there's anywhere better to do it than Toronto. Working in his favor is the fact that he's coming off an extremely productive season with 38 goals and 74 points, and he helped ensure a smooth transfer of the captaincy to Matthews last summer. He's been a good and loyal soldier. Given the needs the Leafs have down the middle, there's every reason to believe that Tavares remains in their plans. However, the devil is in the details and there's going to be some work required on both sides of the table to find common ground on a new contract. Advertisement Max Domi: One obstacle to moving Domi: His 13-team no-trade clause. The other: The three years remaining on a contract that comes with a $3.75 million cap hit following arguably the worst season of his career. Domi can be an effective player when he's engaged and making good decisions. That didn't happen enough last season. He remains a difficult player to slot into a winning lineup. Is there a problem-for-problem swap out there for the Leafs? David Kämpf: 50/50 might be high for both Kämpf and the player who comes after him. Kämpf sat for most of the postseason, playing just one of 13 playoff games, and his $2.4 million cap hit is money that could be better spent on talent higher up the lineup. We'll see how the centre position shakes out after free agency, but there are a lot of teams that want more help down the middle, and after his July 1 bonus, Kämpf is only making an average of $1.73 million a season the next two years of his deal. It should be moveable, even with a 10-team no-trade clause to work around. Calle Järnkrok: Järnkrok at least played the majority of the playoffs and seems to be more valued by Berube than Kämpf. But he'll be even easier to move, given that only $775,000 of his salary will be left after a July 1 bonus. Järnkrok's $2.1 million cap hit for one more season is too rich if he's going to be playing as a no-offence checker the way he was deployed this past season. Steven Lorentz: A man who embodies 'The Passion' was everything the Leafs could ask for, and more, as a depth forward who came to training camp on a tryout and signed for the league minimum. Lorentz wound up being a mainstay in the lineup and an upbeat personality in the dressing room. He also lived out a childhood dream by playing for his favorite team, which certainly opens the door to a second season with the Leafs. However, the fourth liner may also benefit from the 'Toronto bump' and find more lucrative opportunities awaiting him elsewhere in the free-agent market. Matt Murray: While it might make sense on paper for the Leafs to make Dennis Hildeby the undisputed Marlies' No. 1 goalie, that would also theoretically make the 23-year-old the Leafs' No. 3 goalie. And after a season that saw both Woll and Stolarz go down with injury and Hildeby put up a tough .878 save percentage in his six NHL appearances? That might be too onerous a proposal for the Leafs. That's why bringing Murray back feels like an option to consider. He accepted his role as the mentor, a No. 3-type who didn't play as much with either the Marlies or the Leafs as his peers. Dependable veterans who live behind the break-in-case-of-emergency glass are still in demand in the NHL. The Leafs will likely feature this type of player. You could do a lot worse than a two-time Stanley Cup winner who is still just 31. Nick Robertson: The Leafs control his rights as a restricted free agent, but it's difficult to see how things move forward after another year where Robertson couldn't crack the lineup at the most important time of year (he dressed for 3 of 13 playoff games). Robertson requested a trade last summer and is still believed to be open to a fresh start elsewhere. The 23-year-old has arbitration rights this summer, which can force the hands of the team if it isn't willing to make a bigger commitment to the player than it has in the past. Robertson has scored 29 goals across the last two regular seasons — 26 of them coming at even strength. Advertisement Mitch Marner: After being unwilling to engage in substantive extension talks with the Leafs during the season, and batting away management's request for him to waive his no-movement clause at the March trade deadline, Marner is ready to explore what's out there for him on July 1. Coming off a career-best 102-point season, he appears set to become the NHL's highest-profile player to hit the open market since Artemi Panarin in 2019. While Marner may not have fully closed the door on a return to Toronto just yet, it's difficult to see a scenario where the Leafs would find it palatable to outbid the league's other 31 teams to retain his services. And even if they were, it feels like Marner is clamoring for a change of scenery after enduring nine seasons of heavy scrutiny in his hometown. Jani Hakanpää: The cruelest twist of a trying season may have come at the end, when doctors cleared Hakanpää to play just days before the Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers. The 6-foot-7 defenseman was still recovering from a significant knee procedure when he signed with the Leafs last summer, but this was not how he or the team saw things playing out. Hakanpää wound up only being healthy enough to dress for two NHL games, plus another two in the American Hockey League, while spending the rest of the year grinding through rehab work and conditioning skates. Hakanpää maintained a healthy attitude throughout and seems inclined to try and continue his playing career, but it's hard to imagine the Leafs taking another gamble on him. Max Pacioretty: A second act in Toronto is not impossible, but consider it unlikely. Pacioretty did bring a lot while battling injuries much of the year, including an inspiring postseason where he produced eight points in 11 games. But he turns 37 in the fall and his body has been through a lot. Most importantly, however, Pacioretty spent the season away from his five children, which was very hard on the family man. That will be a key factor in determining whether he returns to Toronto.
New York Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
What should a Matthew Knies-Maple Leafs contract look like? Comparables and more
In an offseason with no shortage of decisions to make, Brad Treliving has a big question to answer surrounding the immediate future of Matthew Knies. The Maple Leafs general manager knows he will likely have Knies on his roster next season. As a restricted free agent, Knies' options are limited. But if this season revealed anything to Treliving, it's that Knies is crucial to his team long-term. Advertisement It's believed Knies suffered a deep bone bruise in his ribs in Game 6 against the Florida Panthers. Knies quickly decided he was not going to miss Game 7, even though he was still in serious pain. Of course, Knies was hardly his effective self in Game 7. But there was still hope his injury could heal sometime in the third round against the Carolina Hurricanes, had the Leafs advanced that far. Nevertheless, he re-established through the final days of his season that he desperately wants to play in pressure-filled situations. You can add this to the pile of Knies' positive traits. He's just 22 and his physicality, forechecking ability, goal-scoring touch and newfound defensive capabilities make him a different breed. Knies was once viewed as a unicorn within the Leafs prospect pool. This season, his 29 goals scored in a bruising manner suggested he might be a rarity in the entire NHL. That's why the Leafs should not waste any time with Knies' future. To set their team up for future success, Treliving would be wise to not only lock up Knies long-term, but to make him a core piece of the team to build around. Knies is open to a long-term deal. And signing Knies long-term would not represent a gamble for the Leafs. Instead, making Knies a piece of their core could help keep their Stanley Cup window open as long as possible. Because the playoffs are still fresh, let's start there. Yes, Knies' postseason sample size is small, but the results shouldn't be ignored. Knies has eight goals and 14 points in 27 playoff games. Among all Leafs with at least two seasons in Toronto since 2016-17, he sits fourth in five-on-five playoff points per 60 minutes (1.93). He was one of the better Leafs in the playoffs, which meant he ended up ticking the boxes the Leafs set out for him this season. Knies established himself as a reliable top-line player. He earned his time with a new role on the penalty kill and took steps defensively. Advertisement Most importantly, Knies added confidence and comfort in a role that allowed him to dominate shifts. Last season, Knies sometimes deferred to Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on the ice. This season, he grew into a heavier brand of hockey than he had played in the past. Knies' game is an honest one that Craig Berube appreciates: consistent in its work ethic and competitiveness. The Leafs head coach called Knies the player who surprised him the most this season. 'What (Knies) has accomplished here, I'm not sure I pictured that,' Berube said of his winger at the end of the regular season. 'He's been a pleasant surprise. Not a surprise so much because the ability was there, but he's young and as a young guy, to me, he's grown so quickly.' Behind the scenes, Knies has not shied away from the pressure that comes with playing in Toronto. He does not overthink situations and is comfortable in his own skin in a way not every young player in Toronto always is. Knies speaks his mind. If the looming departure of Marner, in some part because of the pressure and expectations that come with being a Leaf, has taught the Leafs brass anything, it's that they should covet a player who can seemingly block out the noise. First, let's address the elephant in the room: Could Knies have leverage in the form of a recent uptick in offers sheets for RFAs? 'I want to be here. I want to play here. That's all that really matters,' Knies said during his final media availability this season while shrugging his shoulders, as if the answer to the hot-button question was obvious. And so the likeliest outcome here is Knies putting pen to paper at some point this summer. What might that deal look like? There are a few player comparables worth considering. If the Leafs and Knies' camp agree to seek a long-term deal, one player on the high end of that list is Dallas Stars centre Wyatt Johnston. Yes, Johnston and his five-year contract with an $8.4 million AAV might seem outlandish. The Leafs would likely argue, and rightfully so, that Johnston plays centre. Playing a position of higher value than the wing should lead to a larger AAV. But Knies' camp could point out that Johnston and Knies have had similar playoff production, and for everything centres do outside of a box score that affect the game, Knies' intangibles include improved defensive and physical elements in his game. Advertisement Johnston also plays in a state without income tax. Anyone who lives in Toronto knows that couldn't be further from the truth this side of the border. Knies' camp trying to push for Johnston-esque AAV to compensate for that disparity makes some sense from the player's side. The Leafs will almost certainly feel differently. Getting to that number could be almost impossible with their current cap situation. So is Matt Boldy's seven-year, $49 million contract more digestible for the Leafs? Like Knies, Boldy is a scorer, having blossomed after two years in the NCAA into a top-line winger. After an abbreviated breakout postseason campaign this spring, Boldy's 1.85 five-on-five playoff points per 60 minutes rank similarly to Knies' 1.93. The sample size is much smaller, but after Knies scored at a 30-goal pace this season, he looks capable of hitting Boldy's goal totals over the last three seasons (31, 29, 27) provided he keeps playing with someone like Matthews. The Leafs could argue Knies has just one breakout year under his belt — and that came alongside Matthews and Marner. Of course, Boldy's contract is now something of a steal for the Wild. He's one of the better young goal-scoring wingers in the game and is looking like more and more of a lock for the USA's 2026 Olympic team. But we also may just be scratching the surface with Knies and his future. With the security of a long-term deal, is Boldy's status what Knies could shoot for? With high-profile departures likely, Treliving could spend this summer remaking the Leafs' top six. The front office will be keen to win a negotiation. It shouldn't factor into Treliving's decision-making, but the public perception of the Leafs losing contract negotiations with top young forwards still lingers around Toronto. If the Leafs land in and around $8 million AAV for Knies, it would hurt them in the short term. The team has limited salary-cap flexibility and that number could affect what else they want to accomplish in free agency. But once the cap jumps in a few years, it's a number that could potentially end up looking like one of their better contracts. Advertisement Another if — and it's a big one — is that if the Leafs get close to Johnston's AAV, they'd want to eat up as many of Knies' UFA years as possible. A seven-year deal would do that. That would give the Leafs a top-line winger in his prime. As long as Treliving and Berube are running the team, Knies' style of play would be at home in a top-line role. And that steadiness swings both ways. A long-term deal would also give Knies the stability to grow into some type of leadership role in Toronto. Let's not undersell how much that matters. Life in the NHL moves quickly. The Leafs had a young, emerging core less than 10 years ago. They now have one of the oldest rosters in the NHL with more dad jokes being shared in the dressing room than TikTok memes. Knies is different. Knies is young. The Leafs need to keep their window to contend open as long as they can by locking up players under the age of 25. Because the Leafs should be, even quietly, preparing for that future. Easton Cowan could be a Leaf as soon as next season. Marshall Rifai was on the cusp of getting more Leafs appearances last season and will likely push for a spot in training camp as well. Throughout the playoffs, the Leafs welcomed various prospects to Toronto to watch games with team representatives. Noah Chadwick and Hudson Malinoski were among them. If you're Knies, you've seen so, so much in your first three seasons in Toronto. You've seen the highs – the only two series wins in the current core's history — and the lows (*gestures broadly*). He could use that experience to bolster his leadership capabilities. Adding Knies on a long-term deal ensures they have a core player who can serve as a bridge between their veterans and any young pieces they may add soon. The operative word there? Soon. After nothing more than informal discussions throughout the season between the Leafs and Knies' camp, expect discussions to ramp up in June. That's when everyone involved will determine whether a long-term deal makes sense. And if it doesn't, the question is whether a bridge deal to buy the Leafs some time with their cap situation before a much larger payday in a few years makes even more sense. Advertisement For his part, Knies is expected to spend most of the summer in Minnesota. He plans to work out continuously with his former University of Minnesota teammates who have since graduated to the NHL, including Jackson LaCombe and Jimmy Snuggerud. Expect Knies to try to add some explosiveness to his skating and obviously bulking up even more to become one of the league's more dominant power forwards. That's always been the goal for Knies. Whether that happens during a short bridge deal or in a longer-term contract will be one of the more important decisions in a fascinating Leafs offseason.
National Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Wake of Mitch Marner's potential exit would help define Treliving era with Maple Leafs
Brad Treliving's potentially defining moment as Maple Leafs general manager awaits. Article content Article content If, as many expect, Mitch Marner decides to go to the open market in free agency and takes his talents to another National Hockey League team, what Treliving does in the aftermath will signify a rather large stamp on his tenure in Toronto. Article content The general belief is that Treliving and the Leafs will save between $13 million and $14 million US per season if Marner signs elsewhere. Whatever Matthew Knies gets on his next contract, that won't factor into what cash Treliving will have in the event of a Marner departure. Article content There will be further savings, too, even if John Tavares re-signs with the Leafs. Article content There's no way the Leafs should sign Tavares to anywhere near the $11-million salary cap hit he represented for each of the past seven seasons. If they can get Tavares at half that cost and for no more than two years, perhaps that's OK. Anything beyond that, either in term or in dollars, would be risky for a player who will turn 35 in September and contributed just two goals in the Leafs final nine playoff games this spring. Article content Article content After several years of knocking on the 100-point door (including three seasons with 94 points or more), Marner finally got there in 2024-25, recording 102 points. Article content Any potential concern for Marner about his contract status wasn't a factor as he set a personal-best with 75 assists, as well as his point total. Those 75 assists were third-most in the NHL, behind only Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon and Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov, who each had 84. Article content From within, we know that Marner's production will not be replaced. How much work does Treliving have to do regarding the club's forward group? As of today, after captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander, the next Leafs forwards on the highest-paid list are Max Domi ($3.75 average annual value) and David Kampf ($2.4 AAV). Article content Two years into his time with the Leafs, Domi hasn't been able to put down roots at centre or on the wing, drifting between the two positions. He has 17 goals and 63 assists in 154 games with Toronto. Article content Article content Kampf was a healthy scratch in the playoffs and could be a buyout candidate this off-season. Article content Then you're looking at Calle Jarnkrok, Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann. and restricted free agents Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg. On some nights, McMann and Robertson can throw an offensive scare into the opponent — on some nights.
