Maple Leafs May Have Sights Set On Great Veteran Forwards

The Toronto Maple Leafs may have some changes in store depending on what happens with Mitch Marner, Matthew Knies, and John Tavares. This was seen as the year that the team could have gotten over the hump, but the big guns didn't show up later in the two series again. Changes probably should be made and according to Chris Johnston, the Maple Leafs could look to sign veterans like Brad Marchand, Claude Giroux, Patrick Kane, or Jamie Benn.

Right off the hop, I don't see Benn playing anywhere other than Dallas. He has said that his career isn't over and he wants to sign back with the Stars. There is plenty of cap space with his current deal expiring and without a Stanley Cup, I can't see him breaking the bank again.

Giroux is the next likely to sign back with his current team, the Ottawa Senators. He has had three strong seasons and the team could continue to use a veteran presence like his. Taking the next step was big in any convincing the Senators may have to do to bring him back. The 37-year-old is looking for a Cup and the Maple Leafs did knock off the Senators in the first round, but some may say they're on the same playing field and Ottawa has a better chance of going further next season.

As for Marchand and Kane, I think Marchand is more likely to land in Toronto than Kane. Marchand has seemed to like playing on the Florida Panthers a lot and could very well sign back with them, but playing for the Maple Leafs would also help in getting back at the Boston Bruins for how things ended.

Kane wants competition. He's made his money and won his Cups, but he has been taking the Original Six tour of teams, playing for three of them now. He has yet to come North of the border and the Maple Leafs would need to do some convincing if he even has any interest. As one of, if not the best American-born player in NHL history, it's tougher to see him come to Canada. On the other hand, the Detroit Red Wings haven't made the playoffs since he's arrived and the Maple Leafs continuously make the playoffs at least. It would be different in the room with a winner like Kane to have an influence on another American, Auston Matthews.

The Maple Leafs are set for an exciting offseason and there could be some big and shocking changes.