Buyouts Likely for Two Former Maple Leafs This Summer

As the Maple Leafs navigate through yet another long summer, they're not the only team and players who are dealing with the disappointment of a troubling 2024-25 season.

While the Leafs won the Atlantic Division for the first time, home ice did not amount to much for them in the playoffs, as the Florida Panthers took the Leafs down in 7 games, sending them to the golf course before June for the 2nd time in 3 years.

Mitch Marner appears poised to test free agency for the first time in his career, while the Leafs were reportedly interested for a short time in potentially buying out David Kampf and/or Calle Jarnkrok. They're not the only team contemplating buyouts, either.

While the Leafs are weighing their options, a couple of other former Leafs in T.J. Brodie and Pierre Engvall never had the opportunity to even compete in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and now their respective teams are looking to potentially force them out this summer.

Engvall was the recent recipient of a 7-year deal from the New York Islanders, which pays him $3M per season through 2029-30. With just 62 games played and 15 points last season, the Islanders are looking at getting out of a bad contract as quickly as they can.

As for Brodie, his deal with the Chicago Blackhawks has just 1 more year at $3.75M. Like Engvall, Brodie did not play even close to the full 82 games in 2024-25, suiting up in 54 contests and amassing just 10 points.

The Hawks would like to take a step forward next year, and it appears as though they may opt to move on without Brodie if they can, either via trade or buyout.

It's highly unlikely that the Leafs would offer contracts to either player if they were bought out, but stranger things have happened, and if they do plan to take a step back next season and wait for a more star-studded 2026 free agent crop, perhaps they'd be willing to consider a short-term deal for a guy or two the organization already knows.