.@TheFourthPeriod identifies Boone Jenner, Mason Marchment, and Eeli Tolvanen as potential free agent fits for the Maple Leafs. #LeafsForever @thegoldenmuzzy | @Jay_D_Rosehill | @TLNdc
Nation Sites
The Nation Network
The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Toronto Maple Leafs 2026 free agency live blog
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Welcome to The Leafs Nation’s 2026 NHL free agency live blog, where we’ll keep you posted about transactions across the league. Toronto is expected to be active on Wednesday, with Mason Marchment, Boone Jenne and Eeli Tolvanen listed as potential targets per David Pagnotta on Tuesday’s edition of Leafs Morning Take. Patrick Kane has also been listed as a potential fit for the Maple Leafs, while Gavin McKenna has listed him as his idol. Toronto could also pursue goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, with Anthony Stolarz as the incumbent starter, while Artur Akhtymaov and Dennis Hildeby compete for the backup spot.
Toronto is armed with $20.93 million in cap space per our friends at PuckPedia, and general manager John Chayka can operate with flexibility and optionality on July 1. Although Chayka has categorically denied interest in trading Matthew Knies, it’s possible the 23-year-old burgeoning power forward could be moved in a potential trade for reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski. Werenski reportedly blocked a trade to the Dallas Stars, and is still considering a move to the Maple Leafs or Tampa Bay Lightning.
Chayka and Mats Sundin are navigating two timelines but McKenna’s arrival, along with a sign-and-trade for Darren Raddysh has placed the team back in win-now mode for the 2026-27 season.
McKenna, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Knies headline this year’s roster, and the Maple Leafs are still looking to add secondary scoring, while rounding out their defence corps. Morgan Rielly is widely reported to have submitted a four-team list, all residing in the Western Conference, where he’d waive his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a deal. Rielly doesn’t want to leave the Maple Leafs, and is expected to meet with head coach Jim Hiller in the coming days.
As the day marches on, we’ll have every Maple Leafs transaction listed here with some quick analysis. We also encourage you to check out our friends at Daily Faceoff, who will have comprehensive coverage from a league-wide perspective throughout the day.
7:55am ET: TSN’s Darren Dreger gets us started with a report that the Leafs are ‘all-in’ on Zach Werenski. We’ll see if it materializes into anything. Also note the bomb that is Bowen Byram potentially inking a six-year contract worth over 12 million annually.
8:34am ET: Dreger also floats the possibility that the Carolina Hurricanes are still in on star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
Carolina remains a contender for Connor Hellebuyck, while it’s fair to wonder if Buffalo circles back. Nothing imminent with Hellebuyck. The Jets are focused on Free Agency today, but will engage if trade talks intensify.
9:12am ET: The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta suggests that Dallas Stars pending RFA Mavrik Bourque could be involved in trade talks today. The 24-year-old recorded 20 goals and 41 points in 82 games last season.
Sounds like there’s some trade traction in Dallas surrounding RFA Mavrik Bourque. We’ll see where this lands, nothing is done yet.
9:32am ET: Dreger joins FirstUp on TSN 1050 and reports that the trade that Toronto and Columbus are currently discussing for Zach Werenski does NOT include Matthew Knies.
Dreger on First Up says the offer for Toronto for Werenski doesn’t include Knies.
10:26am ET: Dreger posts on X that there is a chance that Knies won’t be included in a potential Werenski trade should it come together.
It’s been assumed Knies will be part of a package if Toronto lands Zach Werenski. See how things develop, but there’s a chance the Leafs won’t have to give up the power forward if this trade comes together.
10:27am ET: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman joined the JD Bunkis Podcast to discuss Toronto’s interest in Werenski and whether or not it has anything to do with Auston Matthews’ current status. He believes it plays a big part.
“I think they’re like ‘we’re gonna go for it’. I think there’s a very good chance they’re signing Bobrovsky today, and I think they’re going to go for it.”
10:50am ET: Friedman reports that the Dallas Stars are trading RFA forward Mavrik Bourque to the Nashville Predators.
Hearing Mavrik Bourque to Nashville
10:57am ET: Friedman reveals the terms around the Bourque trade.
Predators are sending a second and a third rounder to Dallas Nashville also gets Ilya Lyubushkin in the deal
Hearing Mavrik Bourque to Nashville
Breaking News
- Toronto Maple Leafs 2026 free agency live blog
- 3 smart bets Maple Leafs can make in a depressed free agency class
- The Leafs Nation’s staff roundtable: 2026 Offseason primer
- 4 RFAs that weren’t qualified that could fit on Maple Leafs
- Zach Werenski reportedly blocks trade to Stars, still considering Leafs, Lightning