The Toronto Maple Leafs have aggressively reshaped their roster this offseason. New faces include Sergei Bobrovsky, Darren Raddysh, Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Emil Andrae, and Brandon Duhaime. They also selected Gavin McKenna first overall, and the highly touted prospect is expected to be on the NHL roster next season.
With so many newcomers set to compete for jobs at training camp, the Maple Leafs still have reason to keep one more door open. Inviting a player on a professional tryout (PTO) agreement remains a low-risk way to add depth, particularly among bottom-six forwards where roster spots remain available for the taking. One unrestricted free agent who fits that profile is Philipp Kurashev.
Kurashev remains a UFA after a mixed 2025-26 campaign with the San Jose Sharks. In 43 games he recorded seven goals and 20 points while finishing plus-1. Those numbers represented a modest bounce from a disappointing 2024-25 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, in which he managed just seven goals and 14 points in 51 games. The production was not elite, yet it showed flashes of the secondary scoring ability Toronto could use if he earns a full-season contract.
What makes Kurashev intriguing is the recent evidence that he can produce at a higher level. In 2023-24 he set career highs with 18 goals, 36 assists, and 54 points in 75 games. Those totals are not ancient history; they came just two seasons ago from a player who is still only 26 years old. A former fourth-round pick (2018) with that kind of upside is precisely the type of bounce-back candidate who can thrive when given a fresh start and a clearer role.
For a Maple Leafs team that is still refining its identity after significant roster turnover, Kurashev offers a sensible gamble. He is young enough to regain confidence and form, experienced enough to contribute immediately if things click, and inexpensive enough that a PTO carries almost no downside. If he impresses in camp and earns a contract, Toronto gains another forward capable of providing secondary offense. If he does not, the organization simply moves on without any long-term commitment.
There is no guarantee Kurashev will be invited or that he will stick. But given the open competition in the bottom six and the Leafs’ willingness to explore every angle this offseason, handing a former 54-point forward a lifeline on a tryout makes logical sense. Sometimes the next useful piece is not the biggest name on the market—it is the player still searching for the right opportunity to prove he belongs. Kurashev may be exactly that player.