The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t exactly lack alternatives up front, but they haven’t had much success in the postseason in recent years. Let’s take a look at veteran forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi, who are set to become unrestricted free agents this summer. We’ll also look at Toronto’s other bubble players, who are both signed and unsigned for the upcoming season. Based on your predictions, which bubble players are likely to return to the Blue and White in 2024–25 and which ones are likely to move on.

Resurfacing Undoubtedly

1. Bobby McMann, C

McMann had established himself as a physical, high-energy winger who could play up and down the lineup and contribute noteworthy numbers (including 15 goals in 56 regular-season games) without taking up a lot of salary cap space before he was hurt at the end of the regular season and missed the playoffs. One of the team’s better deals, McMann inked a two-year contract extension with a $1.35 million cap charge. And he still has a ton of amazing hockey left in him at the age of 27. When training camp rolls around, McMann will be guaranteed a seat on the roster, and if he answers with another big-bargain season, the Leafs will be doing everything in their power to hang onto him.

2.Connor Dewar C.

In order to get Dewar, the Leafs traded with Minnesota late in the season. In his 17 regular-season games as a Leaf, the 24-year-old recorded five points and four assists. We fully expect Deward to return and provide the Buds with a reliable alternative to play on the fourth line. Deward is an RFA this summer, and the Leafs need affordable options like him in the lineup. His $800,000 salary for 2023–2024 won’t go much different, and the Leafs need more deals like that. After forcing forward Noah Gregor out of the starting lineup the previous season, Dewar was brought back by Toronto management for one more shot at the cannon the following year.

Potential Return, But No Promise

1. David Kampf, C.

Kampf had an eight-goal, 19-point season, but the Leafs weren’t nearly satisfied with that because he had a $2.4 million cap burden for the following three years. While Kampf was a proficient penalty taker who alternated between the third and fourth lines, there are more cost-effective choices available for a bottom-six forward position. Toronto general manager Brad Treliving will let Kampf go if he can find a suitable replacement without feeling any sentimental ties to him. Kampf isn’t a bad player, but the Leafs can’t afford to pay him for the value he provides.

2. Tyler Bertuzzi The LW

Although Bertuzzi had a very difficult first half of the season, he proved his worth for his $5.5 million salary in the second half of Toronto’s campaign. Toronto can afford to re-sign Bertuzzi at the same salary as a UFA this summer, but Treliving may cut ties with him and choose another player, such as Tyler Toffoli or Jake DeBrusk, if other teams raise their demands for Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi can’t ask for the world in contract negotiations, and if he wants to stay a Leaf, he needs to temper his salary expectations. However, reports have surfaced indicating that Bertuzzi and the Leafs’ management are interested in working together to complete a deal, so it’s possible that a new agreement will be reached.

3. Max Domi RW

Domi had some fantastic games in his debut season as a Leaf, just like Bertuzzi. At the end of the season, Domi found a home on star center Auston Matthews’ line, and it looks like his future in Toronto is now up in the air. Domi will return on a two- or three-year contract if he accepts a pay that is comparable to or equal to the $3 million he made in the previous campaign. Treliving will probably move on from him if he demands more money and/or a longer term. Our suspicion is that he remains a Leaf and plays alongside Matthews for the entire season.

4. Joel Edmundson D.

Edmundson was acquired by the Leafs at the trade deadline from Washington, and it ended up being a steal. The Buds made a smart move in bringing Edmundson back for a salary that is likely to be close to his $3.5 million cap hit from the previous season, as his physical game was a welcome sight from Toronto’s blueline. It’s true Edmundson has a hard time staying healthy, but if he agrees to a dollar amount that fits in Toronto’s budget, the Leafs will happily bring the big D-man back.

Very Probably Not Coming Back

1. Nick Robertson, LW

Robertson had his best year as an NHLer this past season, posting 14 goals and 27 points in 56 games. But he was a non-factor in the playoffs, with no points in six games against Boston. He’s still only 22 years old, but Robertson has been pushed out of the top-six group of forwards by players such as Matthew Knies and McMann, and if Treliving is going to trade for help on defense, it makes a lot of sense to include Robertson in a deal to sweeten the pot. Robertson is not going to thrive in a bottom-six forward role, but that’s all that’s available to him on Toronto’s depth chart at the moment. Our suspicion is he’s played his last game as a Leaf. He may flourish elsewhere, but the end of the line for him in Toronto is drawing near.

2. Timothy Liljegren, D

It’s a measure of Liljegren’s fallen stock that, despite being a much-valued right-shot defenseman, he was a healthy scratch for one of Toronto’s playoff games against Boston. The 25-year-old Swede is scheduled to be an RFA this summer who’ll get a slight salary bump on the $1.4 million he made in 2023-24, but Liljegren is likely to be included in any trade for a better blueliner. On a true Stanley Cup contender, Liljegren is a third-pair option, and Toronto has more than enough of those types of D-men on the roster. His time as a Leaf is probably done.

3. Conor Timmins, D

Timmins had health issues last season, but he was a healthy scratch in the playoffs and he’s been overtaken on the Leafs’ defensive depth chart by Simon Benoit and late-season acquisition Cade Webber. The 25-year-old Timmins is signed at a $1.1 million cap hit for 2024-25, but he’s at best a depth option who (injury issues aside) probably wouldn’t be in Toronto’s top six defense group at any point next year. Timmins would probably welcome a trade to a team with more opportunity on the back end, and Treliving is likely to send him packing for a low draft pick that frees up his cap space. Timmins just isn’t good enough in his own end to justify another season with the Buds, and the only question now is if he begins the year as a healthy scratch, an American Leaguer or on another team.