The Toronto Maple Leafs are in an interesting position on the way to the 2025-26 season. Without Mitchell Marner more, after he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, the team sought him to replace him. They have done a good job Bring in Matias Maccelli And Dakota Joshua to fill From their forward core, but they still miss an attacking production. They were recently linked to Dillon Dube as a potential top-six forward addition.
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TSN’s Darren Dreger discussed what the future could look like for Dube, who was recently allowed To return to the NHL and sign a new contract as soon as 15 October, mentioning the Maple Leafs could be looking for a top six-way forward. He clarified that from now on the Maple Leafs are not a leader, but it would be no surprise to check them in with him.
“It would not surprise me if trelivering and the Leafs put their hat in the ring” @Darrendreger made his seasonal debut #First Up and told us that #Leafsforever His potentially interested in Dillon Dube. Would you like to see Dube on the Leafs? Let us know! 👇 pic.twitter.com/9jw72myi9h
– First Up (@FirstUp1050) September 15, 2025
Dube, who has not played in the NHL since the 2023-24 season, is expected to earn a new deal somewhere in the NHL soon. Last season he played 42 games in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Dynamo Minsk, scored four goals and added seven assists for 11 points. He was once a promising prospect of Calgary Flames, but he is not the ideal option in a top-six role.
Dreger admitted that there might be a serious transitional period for Dube who comes in a large Canadian hockey market after the Hockey Canada test.
The ideal role of Dube would be the Bottom-Six player at his best
DUBE has 325 NHL games under his belt, with 57 goals and has added 70 assists for 127 points, which makes it attacking a solid contribution, but his underlying figures are not great.
Top six forward …? https://t.co/hnaddzwea pic.twitter.com/0vmpaelc9z
– JFresh (@jfresh hockey) September 15, 2025
Analytics are not all, finally in terms of defining how good a player is, but that, combined with Dube who has not played a full season in the NHL, can influence how well he can adapt when he returns. The Maple Leafs can afford to take a risk of him for the right price, but it should not be in a top-six role.
His skates and attacking tendencies are solid, but his defensive game, combined with his overall inability to create opportunities for his teammates, makes him a risky signature, especially in a greater role.
The other, as also mentioned by Dreger, is that the Maple Leafs currently have a logjam of attackers and probably still have to do a few transactions before the new campaign starts. With that in mind, it might not be logical to consider adding Dube to the mix until they find out who goes outside and where he could fit.
At the end of the day it seems inevitable that Dube will sign a new deal somewhere in the NHL when he qualifies for this. The Maple Leafs could arise as a strong fit if they move some things, but they are not the most ideal place for him now. Time will learn where he ultimately signs, but he should not be considered a top-six forward option for every team that brings him in.
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