63-Point Winger Could be Targeted by the Leafs to Replace Mitch Marner
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With Mitch Marner likely to explore free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs must come up with a solution to replace 102 points worth of production.
Overall, the 2025 crop of free agents isn't especially attractive. Although there are some big names, it is 2026 that is going to bring a deep field of talent.
Regardless, the Leafs need to find a replacement for Marner if he indeed walks. Over the last few weeks, guys like Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett have been floated around as potential options.
However, one player that fans are forgetting about is none other than Nikolai Ehlers, whose contract with the Winnipeg Jets has expired.
Will Nikolai Ehlers return to the Winnipeg Jets?
Matt Larkin of The Daily Faceoff suggests Ehlers could be the perfect fit for the Leafs, as he had 24 goals and 63 points this season.
Furthermore, Ehlers did this with just 16 minutes of ice time. If he played for the Leafs, he would be on the ice a lot more and could get closer to 75-80 points per season.
Ehlers is blindingly fast. Most years, he grades out near the top of the league in primary assist rate. His offensive play-driving is consistently underrated. He's also been criminally underused for much of his time with the Winnipeg Jets. He averages 27 and 63 points per 82 games in his career despite playing just 16:26 per night. The lack of ice time has stopped him from ever reaching 30 goals or 70 points in a season and could thus keep his AAV a relative bargain.
Additionally, with Ehlers only registering 63 points this season, the Leafs could get away with paying him a lot less than they would someone like Marner.
Ehlers is a cost-effective option who can get you a lot of production. Having said that, the Jets still hold an advantage in retaining the forward.
The Leafs have a lot to think about over the course of the next few weeks. Some tough conversations will be had, and some tougher decisions will be made.
With free agency coming up on July 1st, Leafs fans cannot help but be a little bit nervous about how all of this plays out.
| POLL | ||
MAI 25 | 402 ANSWERS 63-Point Winger Could be Targeted by the Leafs to Replace Mitch Marner Will Nikolai Ehlers sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| YES | 193 | 48 % |
| NO | 209 | 52 % |
| List of polls | ||
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