The Toronto Maple Leafs are aiming to strengthen their roster this offseason, with a specific focus on improving depth, particularly at the third-line center position. One potential target is former Vancouver Canucks forward Pius Suter, who had a standout season in 2024.
NHL analyst Spencer Lazary of The Hockey Writers linked Suter to the Leafs, noting his career-best performance this past season, where he tallied 25 goals and 21 assists for 46 points in 81 games. Lazary suggested that if Suter can maintain that level of production, he could be one of the most underrated signings in free agency and a smart acquisition for Leafs GM Brad Treliving.
Suter, now 29, is coming off a two-year, $3.2 million deal and is expected to receive a substantial raise. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli of DailyFaceoff, Suter is the 19th-best free agent this offseason, with projections estimating he could land a four-year contract worth $5 million per year. While that figure might be slightly optimistic, it still represents a significant increase from his previous deal.
Over his NHL career, the undrafted Swiss forward has accumulated 162 points (82 goals, 80 assists) in 364 games, and his recent production suggests he could be a valuable addition to Toronto’s bottom-six.
Meanwhile, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving emphasized the team’s need for a shift in mentality following another early playoff exit. After losing badly in Games 5 and 7 of their series, Treliving acknowledged that while major roster overhauls aren’t necessarily required, the team must be better equipped to handle high-pressure moments in the postseason.
“We have to push through at the most critical moments,” Treliving said. “We’ve made a lot of changes over the last year, but we need to continue looking for players who can rise to the occasion.”
Toronto heads into the offseason with over $25.7 million in salary cap space, giving them flexibility to pursue upgrades like Suter as they aim to reshape the team’s playoff identity.
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