All signs point to Mitch Marner leaving the Leafs in free agency, and now two NHL insiders have linked Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers as his replacement in Toronto. The Toronto Maple Leafs should be a major mover this offseason, as star forward Mitch Marner will <a href='https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6394559/2025/06/03/nhl-free-agency-rankings-big-board-2025-june/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>become a free agent.</a> With the best name on the market, Marner's potential departure leaves a ginormous hole in the Leafs' lineup, and they may already have a replacement in reserve. Toronto is turning to Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers to fill Marner's spot, according to NHL insiders Shayna Goldman and Murat Ates of 'The Athletic'. If Mitch Marner walks as a free agent, Toronto should join the market for Ehlers, the article read. As much as Toronto has adopted a more playoff-style game with tight defense and an aggressive forecheck, this team still needs a high-octane offense with more contributors. That would still be true even if Marner, a winger capable of putting up 100 points, were to extend. As much as the focus is always on what the Core Four do, the fact is that the team got outscored 12-6 this postseason with Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares on the bench. So if Marner leaves, that offensive need is even more pressing, the article added. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1927103666906915095'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <a href='https://www.nhl.com/jets/player/nikolaj-ehlers-8477940' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Ehlers</a> would represent a change of scenery for the Leafs at a lower cost. Though Marner tallied 102 points (27 goals, 75 assists) in 81 games a year ago, Ehlers tallied a solid 63 points (24 goals, 39 assists) in just 69 games. <h3>Marner will earn significantly more than Ehlers in free agency</h3> The price disparity could be a tipping point: Marner will likely earn around $13 million annually on his next deal, while Ehlers could sign for $8-9 million. That cap relief could allow Toronto to better fill out its roster, an aspect that general manager Brad Treliving emphasized during his push for a DNA change on the team. Replacing Marner for Ehlers would not only change the makeup of the team but also potentially allow for more overall flexibility. <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/winnipeg-jets/winnipeg-jets-connected-to-a-23-year-old-forward-to-replace-nikolaj-ehlers' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>The Jets would also be gaining a lot of cap space by letting Ehlers walk.</a> Ehlers recently completed a seven-year, $42 million contract and should be seeking a raise in free agency.