The Toronto Maple Leafs made waves this offseason when they moved longtime winger Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade deal. The return brought center Nicolas Roy into the fold, but questions quickly surfaced: did the Leafs actually get better?
Maple Leafs Still Searching for Answers After Mitch Marner’s Exit
Former NHL head coach Bruce Boudreau doesn’t think so. Speaking on TSN’s OverDrive, he didn’t hold back on the state of the franchise. “They’re not better today than they were a month ago,” Boudreau in what was a pretty blunt verdict for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
“Losing Mitch Marner, and they probably won’t – and it’s hard to do – replace somebody, that’s going to be that good a penalty killer, that good on the power play, that good setting up your number one scorer in Auston, who will probably, hopefully, be healthy by the time the season starts. So they haven’t,” Boudreau said.
“They’re not better today than they were a month ago.”
Bruce Boudreau hands out his opinion on the Maple Leafs and how the team can make improvements on the roster.#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/Wok2cyvCAn
— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) July 4, 2025
The issue? Marner’s departure creates more than just a gap in the depth chart. He was a fixture on both special teams, logged major minutes, and was often the setup man for Auston Matthews. Roy, though solid, doesn’t replicate that kind of impact.
Marner’s Departure Casts Doubt on Leafs’ Summer Moves
Boudreau also cast doubt on some of Toronto’s newest signings. He pointed to Matias Maccelli and Michael Pezzetta as examples of low-upside bets.
Maccelli, who signed signed a three-year, $10,275,000 contract with the Arizona Coyotes in 2023, had a breakout rookie campaign a few years ago but dipped sharply last season in Utah, seeing less ice time and production.
“I followed him in Arizona because I think because his first year, he was very good, and he was an American League guy getting called up, a smaller type guy that did okay. I just don’t see him moving any needle, to be quite frank,” Boudreau said.
Pezzetta? He didn’t register a point with Montreal last year.
“He’s a tough guy, and he grew up, I guess, right around the corner from where I lived. So you like him to do good, but I don’t think that’s a real big improvement or help for the team,” Boudreau shared.
Still, not all hope is lost. William Nylander looks primed to fill Marner’s role as top-line right winger. His five-on-five numbers have been excellent, and he’s been trending toward a 80+ point season for a while now. With the added responsibility, he could get there.
Then there’s Matthew Knies. The Leafs locked him up with a six-year extension, signaling long-term trust. Knies hit 29 goals last year, showing flashes of power forward potential that’s rare in today’s game. He’s also rounding out his defensive skill set, earning some penalty kill minutes, something Marner often handled.
Maccelli, though inconsistent lately, might still surprise. He’s produced 80 assists across the last three seasons and thrives when given a defined playmaking role. If Toronto can carve out that space for him, he could quietly deliver.
GM Brad Treliving hasn’t shut the door on adding another forward. A top-six winger remains on the team’s wish list, though options are scarce. With a thin free-agent pool and limited trade assets, creativity will be key.
Replacing Mitch Marner isn’t a plug-and-play situation. The Leafs know that. While Roy, Knies, and Nylander can help fill some of the void, the full picture is still incomplete.
