Another year, another offseason full of question marks in Toronto.
The Maple Leafs were eliminated in the second round of the 2023 NHL playoffs, stunned by the Panthers in five games. Their first-round win over the Lightning — the club's first playoff series victory since 2004 — was quickly forgotten.
Toronto had another strong regular season, going 50-21-11 and tying Vegas for the fourth-most points with 111. The Leafs finished second in the Atlantic Dvision behind only the record-breaking Bruins. But in very typical Leafs fashion, that success did not translate in the postseason.
With another early exit from the postseason, the Toronto franchise once again will be put under a microscope this summer. That includes everything from the star players to the head coach to the general manager.
MORE: Fired NHL head coaches and potential candidates for 2023 offseason
The Sporting News takes a look at the upcoming Maple Leafs offseason:
Sheldon Keefe, Kyle Dubas rumors headline offseason
Much of the offseason discussion surrounding the Leafs will focus on the players, specifically the "Core Four." But their status likely won't be decided until the front office and coaching staff are addressed.
General manager Kyle Dubas needs a new contract. The five-year deal he signed in 2018 when he took over for Lou Lamoriello is expiring, meaning the 37-year-old's future with the team is in limbo.
If Dubas isn't welcomed back, then what happens with Keefe? He is already facing scrutiny for his team's poor performance in the second round. The connection between Keefe and Dubas dates to their days with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. If the GM goes, then the coach may as well.
Keefe is under contract for another season after signing a two-year extension in the fall of 2021, but a new GM may want to hire a new coach, and upper management may want to overhaul both the GM and coach positions.
Maple Leafs 2023 free agents
The Leafs have more than a dozen unrestricted free agents this summer, but none of them are from the core group. Four of their six deadline acquisitions, including Ryan O'Reilly, are set to hit the open market this summer. The most notable non-rental is Michael Bunting, whose two-year contract expires.
Among restricted free agents, Ilya Samosonov is the biggest name. The goaltender signed a one-year deal last summer and is under team control for another season, but considering how he took hold of the starter's role, it's likely a longer deal is in the works.
| UFAs | RFAs |
| F Ryan O'Reilly | G Ilya Samsonov |
| F Alexander Kerfoot | F Semyon Der-Arguchintsev |
| D Justin Holl | D Topi Niemala |
| F David Kampf | F Nick Abruzzese |
| F Noel Acciari | F Pontus Holmberg |
| F Michael Bunting | D Filip Kral |
| F Wayne Simmonds | D Victor Mete |
| D Luke Schenn | G Erik Kallgren |
| F Zach Aston-Reese | D Mac Hollowell |
| D Erik Gustafsson | |
| D Jordie Benn | |
| D Carl Dahlstrom | |
| F Radim Zohorna |
Maple Leafs future salaries, roster
The Leafs will have to make some decisions in the near future.
The "Core Four" of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares will have their contracts expire in the next two seasons. Matthews and Nylander are 2024 free agents while Marner and Tavares are 2025 FAs. Extensions are coming for at least two in that group, but it's highly unlikely all four will still be on the team in two seasons.
Morgan Rielly and Calle Jarnkrok are the only players signed for the 2025-26 season, and Rielly is the only one locked up for 2026-27.
| Player | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
| F Auston Matthews | $11.6 million | UFA | ||
| F John Tavares | $11.0 million | $11.0 million | UFA | |
| F Mitch Marner | $10.9 million | $10.9 million | UFA | |
| D Morgan Rielly | $7.5 million | $7.5 million | $7.5 million | $7.5 million |
| F William Nylander | $6.9 million | UFA | ||
| D Jake Muzzin | $5.6 million | UFA | ||
| D TJ Brodie | $5.0 million | UFA | ||
| G Matt Murray | $4.7 million | UFA | ||
| F Calle Jarnkrok | $2.1 million | $2.1 million | $2.1 million | UFA |
| D Jake McCabe | $2.0 million | $2.0 million | UFA | |
| D Timothy Liljegren | $1.4 million | RFA | ||
| F Sam Lafferty | $1.1 million | UFA | ||
| D Conor Timmins | $1.1 million | $1.1 million | RFA | |
| F Matthew Knies | $925,000 | $925,000 | RFA | |
| F Rodion Amirov | $925,000 | RFA | ||
| D Mark Giordano | $800,000 | UFA | ||
| F Nicholas Robertson | $796,667 | RFA | ||
| G Joseph Woll | $766,667 | $766,667 | RFA | |
| F Bobby McMann | $762,500 | UFA |
Maple Leafs 2023 NHL Draft picks
Toronto enters the offseason with just three selections in the 2023 draft: a first-rounder, a fifth-rounder and a sixth-rounder.
The first-round pick is not Toronto's — the Maple Leafs traded their pick to the Blues in the O'Reilly deadline trade. The Leafs acquired the Bruins' first-round pick from the Capitals in the Rasmus Sandin trade. Washington had previously received the pick in the Dmitry Orlov deadline deal.
The fifth- and sixth-round selectons are Toronto's. The Maple Leafs traded their second-, third-, fourth- and seventh-round picks.
In The Sporting News' latest mock draft, the Maple Leafs select Swedish center Otto Stenberg in the first round.
