As the dog days of summer stretch on and training camp draws nearer, the NHL calendar shifts into professional tryout contract season. PTOs remain one of the smartest, lowest-risk tools available for teams looking to shore up depth without locking into long-term commitments or heavy salary-cap hits. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, still navigating questions at the bottom of the roster, inviting a few proven veterans to camp makes clear sense. The organization needs competition, reliability, and players who understand the stakes of a shrinking Stanley Cup window. Here are three names worth serious attention—veterans who could stabilize the depth chart and keep Toronto’s championship aspirations from fraying.
James van Riemsdyk: The Inevitable Reunion
A return for James van Riemsdyk almost feels predetermined. The former Maple Leafs forward already knows the market, the organization, and the expectations that come with the blue and white. Even at this stage of his career, he continues to do what he has always done best: occupy the crease, create chaos, and make life miserable for opposing goaltenders—particularly on the power play.
Van Riemsdyk is no longer the player he was a decade ago, and Toronto does not need him to be. What the Leafs require is a veteran option who can compete for a depth role and provide secondary power-play support. Inviting him to camp on a PTO is an easy, low-stakes decision. He could emerge as the modern equivalent of Max Pacioretty: a middle-six contributor logging roughly 12 minutes a night who simply shows up and competes every shift. Everyone remembers how that experiment paid off. Pacioretty delivered critical production during the 2024 first-round series against the Ottawa Senators. A similar late-career spark from van Riemsdyk would give Toronto another reliable body when the games tighten.
Nick Blankenburg: Blue-Line Competition with an Edge
On the back end, Toronto could use another right-shot defenceman. Nick Blankenburg fits the profile. He is not the largest player on the ice, yet size has never limited his willingness to play with an edge. Blankenburg moves well, competes hard, and is comfortable moving the puck out of his own zone. At minimum, he would give the coaching staff a legitimate depth option beyond Emil Andrae and inject meaningful competition into the blue-line group during camp.
There is a chance Blankenburg signs a standard NHL contract with another club before PTO season fully arrives. Should the opportunity remain open, however, Toronto would be wise to bring him in. A tryout costs little and could yield a player the organization ultimately wants to keep. Depth on the right side is never a finished product; Blankenburg offers a chance to strengthen it without significant risk.
Michael Bunting: Familiar Edge and a Matthews Connection
This one is less probable, yet the upside makes it intriguing. Michael Bunting already knows what it takes to play in Toronto and was productive during his earlier stint with the club. He brings energy, the ability to get under opponents’ skin, and a track record of keeping pace alongside skilled forwards—most notably Auston Matthews.
The front office has already remade parts of the forward group with players who supply grit and compete. Adding Bunting would complement the edge brought by recent arrivals such as Colton Sissons, Brandon Duhaime, and Nick Paul. The difference is that Bunting has proven he can elevate his game next to Matthews, an asset that becomes invaluable if the top line needs a jolt or if secondary scoring dries up. A PTO gives both sides flexibility. Toronto can evaluate him alongside the rest of the roster without an immediate contractual commitment. If he earns a roster spot out of camp, the organization can then clear the necessary space.
The Clock Is Ticking
Toronto’s Cup window will not stay open indefinitely. Depth failures and mid-season injuries have derailed promising seasons before. PTOs offer a practical way to address those vulnerabilities now, before training camp opens and the real evaluation begins. Van Riemsdyk provides power-play know-how and veteran reliability. Blankenburg supplies right-side defensive competition. Bunting adds familiar tenacity and chemistry with the team’s best player.
None of these moves requires a massive gamble. Each represents an opportunity to improve the margins that often decide playoff series. As the summer winds down, the Maple Leafs would be wise to act. The right combination of these three veterans could help keep the championship window intact rather than watching it slowly close.