Three Late‑Season PTO Candidates the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Evaluate

Currently, the Toronto Maple Leafs have limited flexibility regarding salary cap space and roster openings. Nevertheless, late‑offseason rumors suggest they may be interested in former second‑overall pick Patrik Laine and several remaining depth free agents.

Despite the tight cap situation, general manager John Chayka could still pursue an additional roster addition. Alternatively, given the existing depth, the Leafs might consider signing one or two players to professional try‑out (PTO) contracts to increase competition heading into training camp.

With that in mind, the following three free‑agent players represent viable late‑offseason PTO targets for Toronto.

Carson Soucy

Although Toronto’s defense appears crowded after the acquisitions of Emil Andrae and the potential push from Ben Danford for a third‑pairing spot, Carson Soucy has long been a logical fit for the club—especially after a difficult season split between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders.

At 32 years old, Soucy recorded 12 points in 76 games last season. He is not recognized for offensive output, tallying only 99 points over 441 career NHL games. His value lies in solid defensive‑zone play; he is a physical defender who routinely blocks shots, a trait that could bolster Toronto’s goaltending.

Soucy does not need to log 75 games or play 20-plus minutes per night for Toronto. However, the current third‑pairing rotation featuring Andrae, Danford, and Troy Stetcher would benefit from added competition, particularly from a player capable of earning a regular spot with a strong training‑camp performance.

At minimum, Soucy offers a reliable defensive depth option should an injury arise on the blue line. Similar to Troy Stetcher’s role last year, he could attract the Leafs’ interest if given a PTO opportunity before the campaign begins.

Eeli Tolvanen

Eeli Tolvanen’s production may appear puzzling at first glance. The 27‑year‑old winger tallied 12 goals and 36 points in 78 games for the Seattle Kraken last season. He has previously reached the 20‑goal mark once and amassed 190 points over 423 NHL games.

His underlying metrics from last season were noteworthy. Tolvanen’s shooting percentage dipped to 8.5 %, the second‑lowest of his career, compared with a career average of 12 %. He also logged a career‑high average ice time of just over 16 minutes per game with Seattle, suggesting he may have been deployed in roles that limited his offensive output.

Although Toronto already possesses several depth alternatives, Tolvanen may not be the first name that comes to mind for a PTO. Nevertheless, he could contribute useful depth scoring and heighten competition during camp alongside the club’s other offseason additions.

James van Riemsdyk

Bringing back a familiar face like James van Riemsdyk makes sense for Toronto. The 37‑year‑old forward remains productive in a depth capacity, notching 15 goals and 31 points in 72 games last season. While his output has declined in recent years, he still offers valuable net‑front presence on the second power‑play unit, complementing John Tavares’ role on the first unit.

Van Riemsdyk has scored at least 11 goals in each of the past four seasons and continues to average about 11–12 minutes of ice time per game. His prior experience with the organization is an asset, as he understands the team’s expectations following his previous stint with the Leafs.

Furthermore, he shares the same agent—Austin Matthews’ representative Judd Moldaver—as the Leafs’ star center Auston Matthews. This connection makes a PTO for the former first‑line winger a low‑risk avenue for Toronto to assess what van Riemsdyk can still contribute.

As the upcoming 84‑game season approaches, it remains to be seen whether any of these players will appear at Toronto’s training camp or secure contracts elsewhere before the 2026‑27 season opens.

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