The Toronto Maple Leafs have started making moves this NHL offseason after the major departure of Mitch Marner, who will continue his career with the Vegas Golden Knights following a sign-and-trade with the Canadian franchise. Star forward Auston Matthews now welcomes a new teammate coming from the Montreal Canadiens.
Marner’s exit from the Maple Leafs has been one of the most significant and anticipated moves of the 2025 NHL offseason. This upcoming campaign will be a major challenge for the team, as they will be without their “Core Four”, composed by Marner alongside Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares.
Marner’s six-year contract expired at the end of last season, and before becoming a free agent, he agreed to a trade that set his future. As their first response, Toronto added a new player who was born in Toronto and developed in Montreal. It’s never too late to come home.
The new Maple Leafs forward
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman and TSN, the Maple Leafs have signed forward Michael Pezzetta to a two-year deal with a cap hit of $787,500 per season, split between $775,000 in 2025–26 and $800,000 in 2026–27. The Toronto franchise secures some depth support for their forward group.
Michael Pezzetta, the new player of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Last season, Pezzetta appeared in 25 games and didn’t record any points, contributing 73 hits and averaging just over five minutes of ice time per game. His addition is not expected to replace the 102 points Marner contributed.
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Toronto starts to make moves
The signing of Pezzetta represents the Maple Leafs’ first move in the free agent market. While not a blockbuster addition, it is a smart move that adds physical depth to the roster without throwing off the team’s salary cap balance.
