With the NHL offseason heating up, the Toronto Maple Leafs face a hypothetical but very intriguing question: If you had $24 million to spend over three years, would you use it on John Tavares or Brad Marchand?
That’s the scenario presented by analysts Aaron Korolnek and Carlo Colaiacovo on the First Up podcast. Both stars come with elite resumes but very different styles. One offers stability and leadership at the center. The other brings grit, edge, and playoff magic.
Should the Leafs Choose Tavares or Marchand for $24M? Analysts Weigh In
Korolnek and Colaiacovo explored a fascinating “what-if” scenario for the Maple Leafs. If both Marchand and Tavares were available at $8 million a year for three years, who should the Leafs choose?
Korolnek made it clear where he stands:
“See, I would go for Tavares, for sure, just because he’s a center and the Leafs don’t have any centers,” he said. “And Tavares is not making $8 million. Well, he might on the open market if he wants it.”
If both players cost $8 million per year for three years, who should #LeafsForever sign, John Tavares or Brad Marchand? @Aaron_Korolnek and @CarloColaiacovo debated that this morning. Who would you sign? Let us know! 👇 pic.twitter.com/vqus31vnAA
— First Up (@FirstUp1050) June 9, 2025
For Aaron, the decision is all about position and fit. The Leafs have a clear need at center, and Tavares, despite being 34, is still producing at a high level. This season, he scored 38 goals and matched the second-best total of his entire career. Since arriving in Toronto in 2018, he’s tallied 493 points in 515 games, a consistent offensive threat.
But Colaiacovo took a different angle, focusing on the emotional and strategic impact Marchand could make:
“Bringing a guy like Marchand changes the DNA of this team,” Carlo said. “He’s a proven playoff performer, and he brings a different element of a style of game.”
Carlo referenced GM Brad Treliving’s comments from May about the team needing a “DNA change.” Marchand, at 37, certainly fits that bill. He’s a fiery competitor, a postseason veteran, and a player who has scored big goals in big moments.
Since joining the Panthers at the trade deadline, Marchand has lit up the playoffs, scoring seven goals, including a thrilling double-overtime winner in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. He now has five career overtime goals in the playoffs and continues to perform well deep into his career.
The debate comes down to identity vs. necessity. Do the Leafs want to double down on center depth with a reliable scorer like Tavares or shake things up with a battle-tested forward like Marchand, who brings playoff grit?