Matthews’ Maple Leafs reportedly have preferred option between Panthers’ Marchand and Bennett as Marner replacement

It seems all but decided that Mitch Marner won’t play alongside Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2025-26 NHL season. While Marner’s destination remains uncertain, the Leafs are already eyeing potential replacements, with Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett emerging as favorites. However, Toronto is reportedly leaning more toward one of the Florida Panthers‘ stars.

Just like the action on the ice, the NHL is intense off it as well. In the blink of an eye, things can do a complete 180, changing everything. On that note, fans in Toronto might be in for a change of heart this upcoming offseason.

Marner, once hailed as the franchise’s savior, is now heading for the exit door, with Toronto fans divided on the matter. On the other hand, there may be few players Leafs fans despise more than Marchand and Bennett—yet they would add either to the team in a heartbeat.

Although their pasts are far from fond memories for fans in Toronto, with both Marchand and Bennett set to become UFAs on July 1st, the organization in Ontario would gladly welcome them into the fold. However, recent reports suggest that one of the two is currently better positioned to take over Marner’s expected vacant role.

Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers warms up prior to a game against the Montreal Canadiens at Amerant Bank Arena on March 30, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.

According to reports from Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, there is a more realistic scenario in which the Leafs acquire Marchand rather than Bennett during the upcoming NHL free agency. As the insider stated, Marchand is a natural fit, capable of slotting directly into Marner’s role on the wing next to Matthews on the first line.

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Is Marchand hinting towards a move to Toronto?

Imagine telling a Boston Bruins fan a couple of years ago that Brad Marchand might one day flirt with a move to the Maple Leafs—they’d have called you crazy. It was just as hard to picture Marchand wearing anything other than the Spoked B. Yet here we are, and he’s since become an instant fan favorite with the Panthers.

While Marchand is fully-focused on the Stanley Cup Final with the Cats, he voiced a sincere statement about his future plans once his contract comes to an end on July 1st and he explores his options throughout the league.

Mitch Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks on following a 5-1 loss against the St. Louis Blues at Scotiabank Arena on October 24, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

“I’ve thought about potential situations. Until you really know what the options are it’s all theoretical,” Marchand admitted, during an interview with Elliotte Friedman. “Anything is on the table. I’m going to listen to anything when the time comes and we’ll see what the right fit is.”

The statement made waves, especially coming shortly after Marchand admitted he grew up a Maple Leafs fan. With Toronto seemingly in desperate need of a veteran who possesses the traits of the former Bruins captain, the timing couldn’t have been more striking.

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Remember me?

Bennett, Marchand, and the Panthers just knocked Matthews, Marner, and the Maple Leafs out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a heated and grueling second round matchup with no shortage of drama. Bennett starred in the biggest controversy, when he made contact with Anthony Stolarz’s head in Game 1, causing the latter to miss the rest of the series with a concussion.

Meanwhile, Marchand continued to torment Toronto in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, knocking them out of contention for the fifth time in his NHL career—each time in a winner-takes-all Game 7.

There’s a reason ‘enemies to lovers’ is one of the world’s favorite literary tropes, and there might not be a better redemption arc for Marchand than a move to the Maple Leafs. As much as it might sting in Boston, the storyline is so contradictory that it somehow ends up making perfect sense.