Before the 2024-25 season even began, there was talk that the Leafs were trying to trade Mitch Marner, but he remained with the team and had an alright season. Did the Leafs have a good season? Well, that’s subjective.

Let’s take a look at how the Maple Leafs’ 2024-25 season went, what they’ve done so far this off-season, and how their team will shape up come October.

How the season went

Thanks to a 52-26-4 record, the Maple Leafs finished with 108 points, top in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the entire league. They also had a new opponent in the post-season, as their first round match-up against the Ottawa Senators was the first Battle of Ontario since 2004, the last time the Leafs made the Conference Finals.

After going up 3-0 in the series thanks to back-to-back overtime victories in Games 2 and 3, the Senators showed some fight, finding the overtime winner in Game 4, and then shutting out the Leafs in Game 5 to send the series back to the Nation’s Capital.

The Leafs jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period, but captain Brady Tkachuk scored mid-way through the second, and David Perron tied the game with just over seven minutes left. However, the Leafs avoided embarrassment, as Max Pacioretty scored less than two minutes later en route to a 4-2 victory to move to the second round.

That second round is where the embarrassment happened. Facing off against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Leafs won the first two games and even had a 3-1 lead in Game 3, but fell in overtime, were shut out in Game 4, and were smashed 6-1 in Game 5 to push them to the brink.

The Leafs were able to win their first game in Sunrise in Game 6, a 2-0 victory, to set up a Game 7, where they were once again blasted 6-1 to end their season.

Drafted players

The Leafs were without their first-round pick, used to acquire Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty before the 2023 trade deadline. Instead, their first pick came in the second round, using the 64th overall selection to pick Tinus-Luc Koblar.

In the third round, the Leafs drafted Jacob Battalgia’s teammate, Tyler Hopkins, 86th overall. Will Belle and Harry Nansi went 137th and 153rd, respectively, while their final two picks were Rylan Fellinger and Matthew Hlacar.

Trades

This off-season, the biggest trade belongs to the Maple Leafs, as they signed Marner to an eight-year deal worth $12 million annually, and sent him to the Vegas Golden Knights for Nicolas Roy.

The day before, the Leafs sent a 2027 third-round pick to the Utah Mammoth for 24-year-old Matias Maccelli. They were able to dump some cap, sending Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for 24-year-old defenceman Henry Thrun. On Jul. 17, the Leafs acquired some more grit, sending a 2028 fourth-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks for Dakota Joshua.

Free agent signings

The most notable free agent signing the Leafs made was agreeing to a two-year deal with Michael Pezzetta worth $812,500 annually. Instead, the Leafs focused on signing restricted free agent Matthew Knies and former captain John Tavares.

Knies agreed to a six-year deal worth $7.75 million annually, while Tavares came back on a four-year deal worth $4.389 million annually.

Departures

Marner’s departure was by far the most notable, but a few other players left the Leafs this off-season. Pontus Holmberg put up respectable numbers for a fourth liner, and it seems like Pacioretty will depart, albeit he remains an unrestricted free agent. Reaves also left, but that isn’t too big of an issue.

Moreover, Brendan Shanahan is out as the team’s president, a role he had held for over 11 years.

What the team looks like heading into 2025-26

The big question around the centre of the universe is whether the Leafs did enough to replace Marner’s 27 goals and 102 points. The simple answer is no. They’re still strong down the middle, featuring Auston Matthews, Tavares, Roy, and Scott Laughton, but they have less than ideal firepower on the wing.

Knies and William Nylander are obviously great, but Max Domi finished with just eight goals and 33 points last season. Maccelli, their other winger projected to be in the top six, scored eight goals and 18 points in 55 games last season, but had 17 goals and 57 points in 82 games the season before. It’d be a different story if Easton Cowan makes the team and lives up to his potential.

Bobby McMann, Dakota Joshua, Steven Lorentz, and Calle Jarnkrok are projected to be the bottom-six wingers.

The Leafs’ defence core is also lacking a true superstar. Morgan Rielly is their best defender, with McCabe and Simon Benoit making up their left side. Brandon Carlo, former Calgary Flame Chris Tanev, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson make up the right side.

Between the pipes is one of the strongest suits for the Leafs, as they’ll have Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz as their tandem.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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