It’s not official that Mitch Marner is walking away from the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, several reports suggest that this is the case. If these reports are true, the Leafs may need to search in-house for a player to take his role. There are some obvious candidates to replace Marner as the first-line right winger. But, there are players that not everyone thinks of to take on that role, too.

Here are three Maple Leafs roster players who could replace Marner next season if he leaves.

Who is Marner’s In-House Replacement?

William Nylander

William Nylander is the obvious choice to fill in for Marner on the first line. He is Toronto’s highest-scoring winger after Marner. This season, Nylander recorded a personal-best 45 goals and 84 points for the Maple Leafs. The season before that was his best campaign of his 10-year career. He scored 40 goals for the second-straight year, while he put up a career-high 58 assists and 98 points. Nylander is a first-line player and would be treated as such by the majority of teams in the NHL.

With Marner potentially gone, there is a great chance that Nylander would start the season on Toronto’s top line. He’d slot in on the right side of centre Auston Matthews and left winger Matthew Knies. However, this would be a relatively new look for the trio. According to MoneyPuck, Knies, Matthews, and Nylander only played just under 60 minutes together this past regular season. Furthermore, Nylander has spent more time with four other combinations than with Knies and Matthews. Nylander’s comfort zone is on the right side of John Tavares, as they’ve been linemates for several consecutive seasons.

Max Domi

While Max Domi has consistently been a bottom-six forward during his time with the Maple Leafs, that could change if Marner leaves. Most of Domi’s minutes were spent on the third line in the middle of Bobby McMann and Nicholas Robertson. Domi is a pure playmaker and always looks for a pass, almost to a fault. Similarly to Marner, Domi is an elite passer and has great offensive IQ. However, it wouldn’t be the first time Domi would take on a top-line role.

In the 2024 playoffs, Toronto were struggling against the Boston Bruins in the first round. Sheldon Keefe, their coach at the time, decided to shuffle up the lines, which placed Domi on the first line with Matthews and Tyler Bertuzzi. Domi and Matthews instantly clicked and were oozing with chemistry. In the last three games of the series, Domi produced three points. Furthermore, that line combined for six points in Game 6, forcing Game 7. Domi recorded two points, Matthews with three, and Bertuzzi with one.

Since then, Leafs fans have fantasized about seeing Domi with Matthews again. Toronto’s potential departure from Marner may open that opportunity for Domi.

Easton Cowan

Easton Cowan is a wild-card player in this situation. It’s very unlikely that he earns an important role with the Maple Leafs as he hasn’t played an NHL game in his young career. However, here is a great opportunity to make his debut. Since he was drafted 28th overall in 2023, he’s played two OHL seasons with the London Knights, winning two OHL titles on the way. In his first season after being drafted, he exploded for 96 points in 54 games. This past season, his 69 points in 46 games aren’t as impressive, but that’s not the whole picture. In the OHL playoffs, he’s scored 13 goals and 39 points in 17 games.

Furthermore, former Leafs defenceman and current TSN analyst Frank Corrado has recently analyzed the youngster’s game. Corrado believes that this is Cowan’s best chance to make the team. “I don’t think it’s far-fetched,” Corrado said. “It’s really going to depend on what he does at training camp. At this point in his career, he is the most ready that he’s ever been to make the jump to the NHL,” he added.

Despite his lesser point totals, Corrado said he’s been adding to his arsenal. He’s been impressed with forechecking and his ability to “hound pucks.” This will improve Cowan’s chances of making the team out of the Leafs’ training camp, especially since head coach Craig Berube loves straight-line hockey.