The Toronto Maple Leafs  have already made significant changes to their roster, with more to come. After hiring Craig Berube as the club’s next head coach, the attention has shifted to his assistants (Marc Savard is rumored) and the roster. With numerous pending free agents and doubt surrounding Mitch Marner’s future, Toronto and GM Brad Treliving could find themselves with a lot of salary cap space and an opportunity to spend this offseason.

Berube will most certainly have some say over the types of players he wants, thus it seems sense that the Maple Leafs are being linked to the Boston Bruins, who may also try to make changes this summer.

Is Jake DeBrusk a forward that the Leafs could pursue?
Jake DeBrusk, 27, recently completed a two-year contract and is expected to receive a significant increase from his $4 million cap charge following an excellent playoff run with the Bruins, scoring 11 points in 13 games. Unfortunately, he has not heard from the Bruins, and while he is hoping for an extension, nothing has been done yet. He commented, “I thought it would be done.” Those remarks do not convey trust that the two parties are on the same page.

During the regular season, DeBrusk had 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points in 80 games. He’s the type of forward the Leafs might be interested in since he’s skilled and not hesitant to play hard, especially when the game is on the line. As DeBrusk approaches free agency in July, several teams looking for a physical top-six forward may express interest if a deal with the Bruins is not concluded. In addition to the Maple Leafs, The Fourth Period reports that the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers are among the early suitors.

Toronto hopes to re-sign Tyler Bertuzzi, but DeBrusk may be an addition or a replacement if Bertuzzi goes elsewhere. And, if Marner is eventually relocated.

And, if Marner is ultimately moved, DeBrusk might compensate for some of the missed production.

Linus Ullmark Is On the Trade Block Outside of Boston

Linus Ullmark, the Bruins’ goaltender, is entering the final year of his contract, which contains a no-trade list of 16 teams this season and 15 teams in 2024-25. According to recent sources, he does not want to leave Boston, and it is unlikely that the Bruins will move him to Toronto. However, this does not preclude the Maple Leafs from being interested and maybe arranging a transaction indirectly.

Ullmark’s stats have been impressive, and he would be the best goalkeeper the Leafs have had in some time.

The Bruins were involved in trade conversations with Ullmark this season, and many sources indicate that the Bruins are willing to moving Ullmark this summer in order to provide a significant deal to RFA goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman. According to reports, the Kings, Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, and Maple Leafs will all be looking for a No. 1 goalkeeper in the coming weeks.

Treliving is concerned about Joseph Woll’s injury history, thus Toronto is more likely to play first base. Someone like Ullmark, with one season remaining, provides Toronto the chance to observe where Woll is at, and if he remains a health problem, Toronto may attempt to sign Ullmark.

This would be a more complex step for Toronto. They’d need to first make sure Ullmark is willing to go there. Second, they’d probably have to have another team involved in the deal since the Bruins might demand a greater premium to move him to a direct competitor.