Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) waves to the fans after the Stars win over the Colorado Avalanche in game five of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Shortly after the trade deadline, Knies acknowledged the trade rumors weighed on him during that stretch.

Now, the Leafs can use the $12 million to $13 million in salary cap space Marner leaves behind on other players this summer. Toronto always spends to the salary cap ceiling, and that isn’t going to change in the wake of Marner’s departure.

Now that the Leafs have been eliminated, there will be much to reevaluate. Of course, decisions on Mitch Marner and Brendan Shanahan will be front and centre, but in truth, few areas will be exempt from contemplation.

The Toronto Maple Leafs bounced back from a blowout loss to shut out the Florida Panthers and force a Game 7. Highlights from Game 6:

Marner, 28, completed his six-year, $65.41 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Many expect his Game 7 exit against Florida to mark the end of his tenure in Toronto, especially after he declined to waive his no-movement clause at the March deadline.

Tavares, like Marner, grew up in the Toronto area dreaming of being a Maple Leaf. When he left the New York Islanders to sign a seven-year, $77 million contract ($11 million average annual value) on July 1, 2018, he publicly announced his decision by posting a childhood photo on social media of sleeping under Maple Leafs covers.

The second-round elimination of the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games by the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will likely result in much-needed changes.