The Toronto Maple Leafs had one of the busiest off-seasons in the NHL this summer, signing an abundance of UFAs as well as a few notable trades from GM John Chayka.
However, in terms of internal business, such as signing significant players to contract extensions, the organization wasn’t so occupied on that front. Aside from trade acquisitions like Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae, they re-signed defenseman Troy Stecher.
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For the next little while, the Maple Leafs will remain relatively quiet with expiring contracts on the roster. In fact, no player on Toronto’s roster will have an expiring contract within the next two seasons, according to PuckPedia. Some players will be eligible to sign contract extensions next off-season, but none of those deals will be officially expiring until 2027-28 is completed.
It’s a unique position to be in for the Maple Leafs, especially considering that no other team in the NHL is in the same situation. The team closest to having all their players locked up for the next two campaigns is the Florida Panthers, with Lars Eller and Garnet Hathaway becoming UFAs following 2026-27.
With the Maple Leafs not having to worry about contract negotiations for NHL players for a little while, is that a good thing or a bad thing? There are two ways to look at it.
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On one hand, the players or staff members wouldn’t be distracted by negotiations or contract disputes, allowing the team to focus on hockey and results. On the flip side, not having the option to walk away from a player or two at the end of the year can handcuff Chayka and the roster potentially. In other words, there is a lack of flexibility.
Four of the six players that Chayka brought in through free agency were inked to two-year contracts. Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger and Zack MacEwen are all under contract through 2027-28.
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Therefore, if one of those players didn’t fit in with the roster, or head coach Jim Hiller’s play style, or just underperforms, the simplest solution is unavailable, which would be to let that player go when the deal expires. Instead, if one of those acquisitions struggles in their first year with the team and can’t really find a groove in Toronto, the franchise is stuck with him, unless they can find a trade partner.
Speaking of trades, not only could these contracts be a short-term freeze to the roster, but they might hinder any desire to add when it comes to the trade deadline, or at any other point during the season when a clear need or hole in the lineup emerges.
Making a trade will always be possible one way or another, but with the Maple Leafs’ roster pretty much filled up, there isn’t much room for new opportunity or adjustment.
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To combat that argument, this could be a drama-free season in terms of contract negotiations, particularly with star players.
Auston Matthews is the star player with the most recent expiration date, as his deal is done after 2027-28. But even then, he isn’t eligible to sign a contract extension until next off-season.
As for the others, William Nylander is locked in through 2031-32, which is six years remaining on his deal. Also, John Tavares and Matthew Knies signed their contract extensions two days apart in late June 2025. Tavares’ expires the soonest, in three more seasons.
Even the youngsters in Easton Cowan and Gavin McKenna won’t be occupied by contract negotiations for the next couple of years. Cowan has two more years left on his entry-level contract, while McKenna, of course, will be beginning his entry-level deal this coming season as he inches closer to making his NHL debut.
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