During their recent discussion about potential offseason moves for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman discussed the implications of this past week’s Toronto Maple Leafs’ press conference. It became apparent that while MLSE CEO Keith Pelley oversees operations, GM Brad Treliving and President Brendan Shanahan will spearhead on-ice changes, indicating a departure from a patience-driven approach.
The famed “Core Four” of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares faced scrutiny for their inability to elevate the team’s performance despite years to get the team over the hump. Marek and Friedman identified Matthews as the sole untouchable, hinting at potential departures for the others, particularly Marner, who’s attracted interest from other teams despite his hefty contract.
Trade proposals are popping up and will continue to surface, even though Marner holds all the cards in any trade with his no-move clause. Would he be willing to waive if asked? If he gets the chance to choose a team from the many rumored suitors, where would he choose to go? Finally, once he gets there, what is he looking to sign for? These are all things that make a trade extremely challenging for Treliving.
Expect More Blockbuster Ideas Like These Ones for Marner
Speculation arose regarding Tavares’ future, with potential trade scenarios discussed, including a proposed blockbuster from Ryan Dixon of Sportsnet. He threw out a few ideas, including trades to Columbus and Anaheim, but his theorized deal with the Calgary Flames involved Marner, Fraser Minten, Nick Robertson, and Timothy Liljegren. The Flames would acquire Marner and assets in exchange for goaltender Jacob Markstrom and defenseman Rasmus Andersson, with salary retention on Markstrom’s contract.
That’s a sizeable trade, rare in today’s NHL.
Critics question the feasibility of such a deal, yet arguments for its rationale point to cost certainty and positional needs for the Maple Leafs, while addressing Calgary’s desire for immediate impact and future prospects. It will be these types of deals the Leafs might look at, assuming they get enough interest from teams willing to pay something of real value for Marner. Anyone who thinks they have a shot in free agency might simply choose to wait.
Another writer posted a proposed trade between the Maple Leafs, and of all teams, the Edmonton Oilers. An already offensively heavy Oilers team, that has to make room for the contracts of Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard, and Leon Draisaitl aren’t about to add a $12 million contract like Marner’s will require. And, what the Oilers don’t need is more top-line scoring. They need depth, defense, and goaltending.
As trade ideas continue to emerge, the NHL community awaits potential reshuffling within the Maple Leafs’ roster. It will be easy for Maple Leafs’ fans to overvalue what Marner can fetch in trade, regardless of how good he is. That makes half of these trade proposals laughable, and the other half unrealistic.
