The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking at a big opening on the wing.
Mitch Marner is likely on his way out of town. But there's a possible replacement looming that no one saw coming.
Brad Marchand, the Boston Bruins legend and Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup hero, is in the picture.
The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that Toronto is one of the teams that wants to speak with Marchand when free agency opens on July 1.
"Several teams, including Boston and Toronto, hope to talk to (Marchand) come Tuesday when the market opens," LeBrun writes.
That'd be quite a twist.
MORE: The reason Mitch Marner doesn't want to return to the Maple Leafs
Early in the offseason, it seemed like Marchand would just be returning to Florida.
In the last few days, that has become less certain. A couple of prognosticators have even predicted Marchand to wind up in Toronto.
He is a Canadian, although from Nova Scotia.
Bruins fans certainly wouldn't enjoy seeing Marchand in Maple Leafs blue, but at this point, it seems an outcome that can't be ruled out.
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