Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Marner’s Monster Offer, Tavares Talks & Re Signing Holmberg – Hockey Writer – Toronto Maple Leaf

Toronto Maple Leaf faces a critical offseason and the storyline begins to take shape. From Mitch Marner’s potentially becoming the highest-paid player in NHL history, to contract discussions with veteran John Tavares, to radar decisions like re-signing Pontus Holmberg, every move this summer can define the direction of the team for years. Some of these choices revolve around money, others around loyalty and others around unexplored value. But, all that said, they portrayed a picture of a franchise trying to reinvent themselves without giving up on their core identity.

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In today’s update, we dig out three key stories: the amazing offer for Marner from the reconstruction team, the challenging negotiation path forward with Tavares, and why Holmberg could quietly become one of Toronto’s smartest signings.

Project One: Report: Four teams are ready to become the highest player in Marner NHL

The Marner draw is heating up and the floating numbers are amazing.

according to sportsJames Mirtle is four non-theatrical teams – the Anaheim Ducks, the San Jose Sharks, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Utah Mammoth – willing to make Marner the highest player in NHL history. Each team has a cap space of more than $20 million, and each season is reportedly ready to offer him a salary of more than $14 million to be the cornerstone of their franchise. While none of these four are ready for the playoffs, they all want a headline to speed up their rebuilding, and Manna will certainly qualify.

That is, there is tension in the rumor. Other insiders tie Marner to competitors more closely, such as the Vegas Golden Knights, the Florida Panthers or the Los Angeles Kings – the victory is now more realistic. Then, the real question becomes: What does Mana want most? If he is chasing the Stanley Cup, he will wait for a playoff club to find the hat room. But if maximizing your income is a top priority, one of these four reconstruction teams can attract him with a record agreement. [If he really is leaving, and I still believe that isn’t a for-sure thing, my bet is Anaheim.]

Project 2: Tavares’ $5 million AAV is “stretch” in the insider

Contract negotiations between Maple Leaf and Tavarez are underway, but the card may not come with a neat home discount. According to Pierre Lebrun, both sides are still committed to solving some problems, but the idea that Tavares will accept $5 million in average annual value (AAV) seems to be a range.

The 34-year-old may be aging, but his production last season (35 goals in the regular season and five goals in the playoffs) shows that he is still valuable. Sticky points are not only money, but also term. Maple Leaf wants flexibility, but Tavares may want some security in his final contract.

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Tavares recorded seven seasons in Toronto, bringing leadership, consistency and professionalism to the locker room. Although he is no longer the captain, he is still the core figure on the ice and on the ice. If Marner sets out, the veteran center will once again take on a more prominent leadership role, especially young players like Easton Cowan and Matthew Knies, expecting bigger steps. The results of this negotiation will tell us a lot about the value of the organization’s progress in the Tavares role. [For me, the idea of a longer term at a lower cost makes sense. I’m guessing that, after his playing days, Tavares will jump into a position within the organization.]

Project 3: Why Pontus Holmberg is the smart resignature of Maple Leaf

For Holmberg fans back to Sweden (and those watching in Toronto), there is good reason to believe that the youngster will be the earliest manipulator of the expansionist (GM) Brad Treliving this summer. Holmberg quietly became one of Maple Leaf’s most effective next six contributors, offering that surplus value in this salary cap era. His expiration contract is only $800,000, and he has the ability to play multiple forward positions, kill penalties, improve the roster up in emergencies and pay more punishment than almost anyone else in the NHL, which has allowed him to acquire hidden assets in 2024-25. Holmberg’s role may be next season with a coach like Craig Berube, who trusts him. Berube also believes that Holmberg’s offense is more than we’ve seen.

What Holmberg lacks in Flash makes up for stability. Despite being scratched and flexible on the cross-line – from anchoring the defensive force to supporting William Nyland for tougher games, Holmberg still released strong defensive metrics and approached the top of the team every 60 minutes of expected goals. Even if the offense is limited, some people can classify it as a career-low hit rate. Based on his use, game driving and penalty differences on ice (plus 17), he created more offenses for Toronto than the original numbers suggest.

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Holmberg is not the top six stars, and may never be. Still, that’s not what makes him valuable. He is the modern prototype that the winning team needs in depth: multi-functionality in locations, defensive responsibilities and cheap enough to balance salary top. If he re-signs in a Bobby McMann-style deal, Maple Leafs fans should expect Holmberg to be a fixture for the Berube system, even taking a step forward with more stable lap lengths and better shooting luck. Either way, he won another look.

What’s next for maple leaves?

It’s a weird offseason. The near future seems to depend on the speed at which the maple leaves clarify their direction, which may begin with Marner. If he leaves, pictures of the roster and salary cap are transferred sharply, affecting the likelihood of Tavarez and other veterans. Meanwhile, the front desk is expected to focus on in-depth signings like Holmberg while monitoring the way free agents and trade markets develop.

With high expectations from sophomore coaches and fans at Berube, Maple Leafs need not only active, but also strategic. The next few weeks may set the tone for everything that follows.