The Toronto Maple Leafs have once again been eliminated from the playoffs in devastating fashion. This loss however, likely signifies the end for the current Maple Leafs core. The team has plenty of intriguing UFAs and RFAs on the market this summer. This includes superstar forward Mitchell Marner who is set to become a UFA this summer. Marner will be looking for a deal upwards of 10 million annually on his next contract and pretty much any team in the NHL will be inquiring on him, including the Montreal Canadiens.
However, the odds of the Canadiens landing Marner are slim, and who knows if Marner would even consider the move. Following the pressure he faced in Montreal, Marner may want to settle in a smaller market for the future. With that being said, there are still some Maple Leafs players who could be intriguing targets for Montreal, and ones who are much more realistic. Let’s take a look at who the Montreal Canadiens could potentially snag from their rival Toronto Maple Leafs, in free agency.
Toronto Maple Leafs that Montreal Could Target
John Tavares
The former Maple Leafs captain is coming off a monster free-agent deal that he signed to come to Toronto. However, his Maple Leafs tenure hasn’t gone as well as he would have liked. Now at 34, his focus will likely be on winning a championship rather than on the dollar value in his next deal. After Toronto’s playoff struggles and his being stripped of the captaincy this past season, it’s plausible that he will want to move on.
The Canadiens biggest need this offseason is a second-line centre. Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook haven’t shown the offensive consistency needed to take the pressure off of Nick Suzuki. With Christian Dvorak also likely leaving in free agency, the Canadiens desperately need some help down the middle. Tavares would be a perfect fit for Montreal, giving them some added leadership and a dynamic one-two punch down the middle. Tavares is still a point-per-game player at this stage of his career and would give Montreal that added layer of offense that they so desperately need. This addition gives Montreal a real threat of a second line with the likes of Ivan Demidov and Patrik Laine
The Canadiens won’t make the same mistake the Leafs did and offer Tavares a mega-contract, especially at this stage of his career. However, if they can agree on a lower dollar value somewhere in the 7-8 million dollar range, it could be realistic. Whether or not Tavares views Montreal as a potential Cup contender within the next few seasons will influence his decision. But adding a player of his calibre to a budding young team would help them take that next step.
Nick Robertson
Many Montreal fans are looking for the Habs to send the Maple Leafs an offer sheet this offseason. Matthew Knies would be the perfect candidate for this move. However, with Marner and Tavares likely on the way out, the Maple Leafs would match almost any offer the Canadiens throw their way. Not to mention, the pick compensation would be high in such a move. There is another intriguing RFA on the Leafs, though, by the name of Nick Robertson. Robertson was thought to be the next great scorer for the Leafs. He hasn’t found his footing in Toronto, however. Robertson has received very few opportunities with the Leafs consistently. He has regularly found himself in the press-box or been given very little ice-time when he has played. Both parties need a change of scenery.
For Montreal, Robertson could be a sneaky good addition to their middle-six. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in skill. His production hasn’t been awful under the circumstances in Toronto. It wouldn’t take a very large offer sheet to pry him out of Toronto. The Leafs may not even choose to qualify Robertson in the end. However, the Canadiens have taken gambles on young players in the past that haven’t panned out, such as Dach and Newhook. They may look for a more established player to fill out their middle-six.
Max Pacioretty
Max Pacioretty was one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 playoffs for the Maple Leafs. He looked like the Max Pacioretty of old during his days as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. With the former Habs captain set to become a UFA, could we see a reunion in Montreal? The Canadiens have been in search of depth scoring, and Pacioretty could fill that void. While injuries have limited him over the last several years, when healthy, he has been a productive player despite playing in limited roles. His footspeed isn’t what it once was, but a healthy Pacioretty could be a valuable addition. The move gives them depth scoring in the middle-six and on the second powerplay unit.
Some unspoken tension between Pacioretty and management ended with him being shipped to Vegas for a package that included now-captain Nick Suzuki. However, the Marc Bergevin regime in Montreal has ended, and outside of Brendan Gallagher, little remains from Pacioretty’s time in Montreal. On a cheap deal, Pacioretty could be a worthwhile bargain for Montreal.
Main Photo: Sam Navarro- Imagn Images
The post Rival Players the Montreal Canadiens Could Target in Free Agency appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.