Stanley Cup Champion Linked to the Maple Leafs Does Not Want to Play in Toronto

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been on the prowl this off-season for a top-6, or even a legitimate top-9 forward, to bolster their every day lineup heading into the 2025-26 season.

While they did a great job at addressing their depth, it didn't do enough to satiate their appetite as we near the start of training camp. They've been heavily linked to free agent forward Jack Roslovic, but it sounds like we can add one more name to the mix in Evan Rodrigues.

With the Florida Panthers technically $3.725 million over the salary cap after they managed to extend Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand this summer, Rodrigues' name has popped up recently in an attempt to clear cap space.

The 32-year-old has no inclination to want to leave the Panthers organization but being one of the few forwards without any trade protection makes him readily available.

In a recent report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, he dove into the Marchand trade from this year's trade deadline, and how some of his teammates pranked Rodrigues into thinking he was going to Boston as part of the return package.

Friedman added that Rodrigues is still seen as a key cog for the Stanley Cup champions and that he doesn't want to move out either, leaving the Leafs somewhat empty handed in those potential negotiations.

What complicates matters further for Toronto is that it is expected that Matthew Tkachuk will start the season on the LTIR. The rugged forward wouldn't be in line to return until after the new year, and while it doesn't solve their cap issues entirely, it allows them to alleviate a ton of cap space and keep Rodrigues in the fold to start the season.

They could still come together and find a trade that makes sense, perhaps for a cheaper, younger forward in Nicholas Robertson. However, as Friedman mentions, Tkachuk's long-term injury all but ends any chances that the Panthers move Rodrigues during the summer.