The Toronto Maple Leafs have had quite a busy offseason. They have many new players on their roster to watch heading into this upcoming season, and they are hoping to bounce back from their nightmare 2025-26 season.
While the Maple Leafs have many new faces on their roster, they would be smart to invite at least one more player to their training camp on a professional tryout (PTO) agreement. Adding another forward on a PTO, in particular, is something the Maple Leafs need to consider.
There are still some solid free agents available for the taking on the market. One specific unrestricted free agent the Maple Leafs need to scoop up on a PTO is forward Jonathan Drouin.
Drouin was bought out by the St. Louis Blues earlier this summer after he had a forgettable 2025-26 season. In 64 games between the New York Islanders and St. Louis, he scored just four goals and posted 24 points. These were simply underwhelming numbers from the skilled forward.
While Drouin had a tough season in 2025-26, the Maple Leafs should still see what he can do on a PTO. He produced at just under a point-per-game pace only in 2024-25, as he recorded 37 points in 43 games with the Colorado Avalanche. He also had 19 goals and 56 points in 79 games for Colorado in 2023-24. These seasons were not long ago at all, so he would be a fascinating bounce-back candidate for Toronto to invite to camp on a PTO.
Drouin's past success adds to his appeal. He would be an intriguing playmaker for the Maple Leafs to have at their training camp, and this is especially so given that they have spots to fight for in their forward group.
Drouin could be a low-risk, high-reward addition for the Maple Leafs if he earns a contract
If Drouin were to impress on a PTO with the Maple Leafs and earn a contract for the season, he could be a low-risk, high-reward addition to their group. With it now being late August, he is unlikely to command much money on a contract, so he could be worth bringing in on a cheap one-year contract for Toronto.
Drouin would provide the Maple Leafs with another option for their top nine and could even work on their power play as a playmaker for scorers like Auston Matthews and John Tavares.
Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see if the Maple Leafs take a chance on Drouin with a PTO. His fairly recent success makes him the kind of player who Toronto really should consider.
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