At the start of the 2018-19 NHL season, there was not a more excited fanbase than that of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Not only did the Maple Leafs have young phenoms budding in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander, but the organization brought marquee free agent John Tavares into the mix on a seven-year, $77MM contract.
Since the informal start of the ’Core Four’, Toronto has appeared in the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons but has only managed to get out of the First Round once. Although there has been some speculation in the past, it appears the Maple Leafs organization may be giving more serious thought to breaking up the quartet.
To preface, Marner is not uniquely worse than any other member of the group, as they all bring their separate strengths to Toronto’s lineup. However, with Tavares’ $11MM cap hit next season likely keeping him from the trade block, coupled with Matthews and Nylander recently signing big-money extensions to stay with the organization, Marner looks like the most predictable candidate to be the odd man out.
Marner is entering the last season of a six-year, $65.408MM extension signed with Toronto in 2019, with a full No-Move Clause kicking in on July 1st of last year. If the Maple Leafs are set on moving Marner this offseason, they will need his consent no matter the destination or the return package.
Assuming Toronto does not retain any salary, and they are not taking any large AAV contracts back in return, moving Marner will allow the Maple Leafs to free up nearly $11MM in cap space, as well as acquire plenty of young talent and draft capital in return. Especially if the acquiring team can sign Marner to an extension as a part of the trade package, Toronto could set themselves up nicely for the future even by trading just one of the ’Core Four’.
Although it would be nice if Toronto could have more future capital, as well as the flexibility to better re-allocate their financial resources, there is no guarantee that any player or pick acquired will turn out to be half the player that Marner is. Over eight years in Toronto, Marner has put up 639 points in 576 games; an offensive output that is rare to come across in an individual player. Since it’s hard to imagine a prospect or draft pick coming back to the Maple Leafs being even nearly as good as Marner, it complicates the argument that a move such as this would put them in a better position to win.
Now the vote is left to you, to be a more competitive team in next year’s playoffs, is Toronto better served by keeping Marner for the long haul, or should they try and move on from him this summer?
All depends on the return. Scoring is hard to find!
Scoring is hard to find…Marner isn’t a prolific goal scorer…he is a point producer but a 25 goal scorer…good player, but time to move on
Someone has to set up goals as well as score them.
i think they should trade him, i think they need that money in other areas especially defense and goaltending, Tavares Matthews and Nylander are already up front, Marner should be expendable to stabilize/balance the rest of the depth chart
Marner,McMann and a 4th rd pick (2024)to Anaheim for Zegras and Vatrano.
Take out Bobby and put in Kampf add a pick if necessary but I like it allows JT to be winger and centre when necessary
Zegras is a head case. No thanks. Maybe if they add their 1st pick this year, then yes.
And why would Marner with his “no-movement” go to Anaheim?? LOL!!
Better weather, calmer atmosphere, less pressure?
Not that hard to figure out
I think they should wait to see how Nylander plays now that he has his big contract. You have to be an idiot not to expect some regression in his performance, like the 12 or 14 games he went without scoring after he signed his big deal. I’d also like to see how the Core 4 plays under Berube, especially Nylander as I feel he will miss quite a few games for accountability reasons. I say sign Marner for a hometown discount of $9.75 per, Tavares for $4 by 4 and see what happens. You can move someone by the deadline if it goes to crap.
Toronto has to move away from allocating most of their cap space to 4 forwards. They need to upgrade their goaltending and add a top d-man. Matthews & Nylander aren’t going anywhere. That leaves Marner & Tavares, who both have one year left on their contract. Tavares is more likely to take a hometown discount in a new deal and Marner probably brings back a better return, especially if Marner agrees to an extension with his new team.
No way should they resign JT. Trade Marner for picks and cap space and sign DeMelo and Chandler Stephenson with the cap savings. You still would have a few bucks to spare. Let JT walk and go after Konecny in 2025 if he becomes a UFA. Use any assets from the Marner deal to get Binnington as Hofer is their goalie of today and tomorow. I wouldn’t mind Elias Lindholm if they could get him for 6x44ish.
I can’t see the Leafs trading Marner for just picks and I don’t think they can get a deal done with just picks because most teams can’t take Marner’s cap hit unless the Leafs take a contract back. The Maple Leafs need to reallocate their money to goaltending & defense. They shouldn’t keep throwing money at their forward corps. Reilly is a solid defenseman, bur really isn’t a number one. DeMelo isn’t either. He’s a good player, but not a top end d-man. The goaltending has been average at best for years. Is Binnington really the answer? He has been so inconsistent since the Cup run in 2019. Not sure he could handle the Toronto media with his personality. Stephenson is going to have quite a few suitors and from teams with more cap space like Seattle & Utah. Lindholm isn’t signing for 4.4 million. He’ll get a bigger offer from Boston & probably other teams.
I meant 6 years and 44 million total. Not 4.4 per year. Yea demelo is not a #1 and wasn’t suggesting that. But he’s a very good RH partner for someone like Rielly. I’d like Adam Larsson from Seattle too. Maybe Robertson and Liljegren would work? I think Binnington is a step up versus what leads currently have and he does have a cup plus good seasons under his belt. As for Marner, I’d take picks and prospects. A guy like L’Heureux would look awesome under Berube. Nash has a lot of cap space especially after dealing McDonough and could absorb the hit without issues. Either way it should be an interesting summer!
Need to bring in a winner $tamkos
Marner and Liligren for Sergachev and Sheary, Duclair’s rights.
Tampa Bay has little cap space. They can’t take Marner’s contrat even if they trade Sergachev in the deal (which I don’t see them doing). Also, I doubt Toronto trades Marner in the division.
No. Tavares is the one who needs to go. You keep your 3 superstars in their 20s
I don’t disagree, but Tavares isn’t waiving is no-movement clause
Has there ever been a mock trade that doesn’t involve the Leafs absolutely running the other teams show?
Not a fan of either team but there might be a trade fit with TOR and LA
It would be complicated because of the cap. Their would likely be several pieces involved & maybe a 3rd team
Until he waives his NMC, this is all a waste of time.
Trade Marner. If he wants back in two years he can. We need a goalie badly.
Toronto will have to take back contracts in any trade.
What’s one more year when you are Toronto? Give Berube a chance to whip them into shape. If he fails, then deal with Marner and JT.
Trade him to Detroit. The Wings have a couple prospects that the Leafs might like. Not going to happen since the two teams hate one another but Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman won 3 cups together in Detroit so maybe..