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The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering the consequential weeks of the offseason when most of the moves are made. In the next three or four weeks, decisions will be made on players on their roster who have expiring contracts, those on other clubs with term left on their deals they would have to trade for, and players who are heading to the open market on July 1.
In taking a look at the Leafs in-house at forward, they have two significant unrestricted free agents in Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi, three restricted free agents in Nick Robertson, Noah Gregor, and Connor Dewar. All three have to be given qualifying offers by Sunday for Toronto to retain their rights, which is likely for Dewar (who the Leafs acquired from Minnesota at the deadline) and Robertson (who scored 14 goals in 56 games), and unknown for the speedy but unspectacular Gregor (who scored six goals in 63 games).
As with everything, what GM Brad Treliving does on July 1 will depend on what the outcome of the Mitch Marner situation is.
The necessity of significant upgrades on defense means most of the club’s projected $18.8 million will go towards adding two or three blueliners, which likely means that they can bring back one of Bertuzzi and Domi, but not both. If the Leafs have to choose, Domi would make more sense since he is more of a playmaking winger who replaced Marner more than adequately on the top line with Auston Matthews.
Other aspects up front will be whether management believes that youngsters like Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan can make the full time jump to the NHL or not, but that is something that can only be determined at training camp.
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The Leafs announced their 2024 preseason schedule on Monday, with six games (three at home and three on the road) against the Ottawa Senators, Montréal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings.
Sunday, September 22 – 7 pm vs. Ottawa at Scotiabank Arena
Tuesday, September 24 – 7 pm at Ottawa at Canadian Tire Centre
Thursday, September 26 – 7 pm vs. Montréal at Scotiabank Arena
Saturday, September 28 – 7 pm at Montréal at Bell Centre
Thursday, October 3 – 7 pm at Detroit at Little Caesars Arena
Saturday, October 5 – 7 pm vs. Detroit at Scotiabank Arena
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Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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