10 Former Maple Leafs Still Looking for New Homes in Free Agency – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

Barring any unforeseen trades, it’s expected that the Toronto Maple Leafs won’t be making any additional roster moves before the 2026-27 season. Despite a horrific 2025-26 campaign that saw them finish 15th in the Eastern Conference, there’s plenty of optimism that this team can get right back into the playoffs next year.

While that’s exciting for Maple Leafs fans, it doesn’t bode well for some former players of the organization who are still hoping to sign new contracts. With that said, here are 10 former Maple Leafs that still remain up for grabs on the free-agent market.

Forwards

Michael Bunting

Though the 2025-26 season wasn’t particularly kind to Michael Bunting, it’s still quite surprising to see that he hasn’t signed a new contract. The 30-year-old hasn’t reached the same highs as his 2021-22 season in which he scored 23 goals and 63 points, but has proven to be a solid secondary scorer.

Bunting, who is as good at anyone when it comes to getting under opponents’ skin, would be a very good third line player on most NHL teams. While it’s become apparent he won’t be landing nearly as big of a deal as hoped, it shouldn’t be too much longer before he finds a new home for the 2026-27 season.

Calle Jarnkrok

After an impressive first season with the Maple Leafs in which he scored 20 goals and a career-high 39 points, Calle Jarnkrok’s play has dropped off in dramatic fashion. That is due heavily to injuries, which have limited the 34-year-old to just 127 games over the last three seasons.

After managing just six goals and eight points in 2025-26, Jarnkrok’s days in the NHL may be finished. That said, his proven track record when it comes to strong defensive play throughout his career may be enticing enough for a team to take a flier on him on a cheap and short-term deal.

Ryan Reaves

Ryan Reaves is doing everything in his power to reach the 1,000-game mark in his career. The 38-year-old enforcer spent the 2025-26 season with the San Jose Sharks, scoring three goals in 50 games. He sits at 962 games played in his NHL career.

Reaves brings little on ice to a lineup other than toughness, but has been able to continue getting work thanks to his presence in the locker room. His teammates love him everywhere he’s been, which may be enough for a team to give him one more opportunity to reach his major milestone.

Defencemen

John Klingberg

John Klingberg’s brief 14-game tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023-24 was completely disastrous, to the point where it looked as though his NHL career was over. Instead, he’s been able to recover from hip resurfacing surgery, spending time with both the Sharks and Edmonton Oilers.

While Klingberg is far from the defenceman he was in his prime with the Dallas Stars, he can still put up some numbers from the back end. He managed 10 goals and 27 points in just 56 games with the Sharks this past season.

Ben Hutton

You’re forgiven if you forgot that Ben Hutton ever suited up for the Maple Leafs, as he logged just four games with them during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. The 33-year-old has since spent the past five seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights in a depth role.

Though Hutton was used sparingly by the Golden Knights during the 2025-26 season, he was able to get in seven playoff games. He clearly still has some NHL abilities, albeit as a seventh defenceman. His age could work against him when it comes to securing another job in that type of role.

Matt Benning

Once a promising up-and-coming defenceman with the Oilers, injuries have taken their toll on Matt Benning, who spent the past two seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Toronto Marlies. That said, he was able to get in a single game with the Maple Leafs this past season.

Benning may no longer be an every-day NHL defenceman, but could still help teams in need of depth on the back end. The fact that he was able to help the Marlies win a Calder Cup championship doesn’t hurt his case, either.

Kevin Gravel

A true journeyman in every sense of the word, Kevin Gravel logged three of his 139 NHL games in a Maple Leafs sweater during the 2019-20 campaign. He’s spent the vast majority of his professional career in the AHL, but did suit up in one game with the Nashville Predators in 2025-26.

Like Benning, Gravel isn’t an NHL calibre defenceman, but would provide many teams across the league with great depth in the AHL. Should he wish to keep playing, it’s likely that he will be able to find a new home for the 2026-27 season.

Goalies

James Reimer

Just when it appeared James Reimer’s career had finished, the 38-year-old was able to sign a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators in January. He went on to appear in 14 games, posting a 7-4-2 record with a 2.42 goals against average (GAA) and a .886 save percentage (SV%).

Though Reimer did step in and play reasonably well for the Sens, it is tough to envision him finding work in the NHL this coming season. There aren’t many jobs available, and the few that may be up for grabs would be better filled with the likes of Connor Ingram or Cam Talbot.

Matt Murray

Matt Murray was able to crack the Seattle Kraken roster to begin the 2025-26 season, but was used rather sparingly in what was a three-goalie tandem between himself, Joey Daccord, and Philipp Grubauer.

As has been the case on many occasions, Murray’s body simply didn’t hold up. He logged just five games with the Kraken, posting a strong 2.21 GAA along with a .922 SV%. Despite the strong play, his continuous injuries over the years will likely keep teams away.

Petr Mrazek

Petr Mrazek’s 20-game tenure with the Maple Leafs during the 2021-22 season was a forgettable one, and things haven’t gone a whole lot better for him since. While he was able to serve as a starting goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023-24, he’s struggled immensely in each of the past two seasons.

Mrazek was limited to just 10 games with the Anaheim Ducks this past season due to injury. In those 10 games, he put up a miserable 4.07 GAA along with a .858 SV%. Those numbers paired with this most recent injury suggest his time in the NHL may be finished.

Several May Be Done in the NHL

Given that we are already in August and training camps are roughly one month away, we could see several players on this list choose to sign two-way contracts or even head to Europe. Aside from Bunting, there is a chance that none of the other nine players on this list are able to find a new NHL organization before the 2026-27 season gets underway.