The Maple Leafs are considering the value of Mitch Marner through trade comparisons.
Mitch Marner’s future with the Toronto Maple Leafs is currently a highly debated topic, with a number of pundits and insiders offering their opinions on possible trade situations. The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel makes conjectures about prospective trade scenarios involving Evan Turner and Dougie Hamilton, arguing that Treliving’s trade of Hamilton—not the one to Vegas—could serve as a model for a potential Marner transaction.
The earlier trades in both transactions included younger players who were poised to break out. According to Siegel, “Treliving’s Leafs could look to pull off a similar trick were they to trade Marner: target players who figure to deliver value for years to come as well as potential stars in waiting.”
It’s clear that the Maple Leafs already have an idea of what a potential return package for Marner would include based on these possible comparisons. To keep its window of opportunity to compete open, Toronto needs players who are ready for the NHL. Similarities imply that they can succeed.
The 25-year-old Norris contenders Dougie Hamilton, Michael Ferland, and Adam Fox were moved by Treliving’s Calgary Flames in the summer of 2018 for past top-five picks Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin, who had not yet had a major NHL impact. The Winnipeg Jets signed and traded Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Los Angeles Kings in the summer of last year in exchange for Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, and a 2024 second-round pick. Dubois was not happy about the transaction. Vilardi and Kupari were previous first-round selections, while Iafallo had a $4 million cap hit left on his deal after two years of play. It was quickly agreed upon that the Jets had won the transaction.
Who Would Be in the Market for This Kind of Deal?
Siegel mentions the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Carolina Hurricanes as possible trade partners for the Maple Leafs. With a lot of offseason changes going on, Carolina may consider trading Marner for players like Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov, and Martin Necas. In the interim, Tampa Bay might think about trading Brandon Hagel or Mikhail Sergachev. These youthful, gifted players might give the Leafs the boost they need to stay ahead of the competition right now.
Securing a spot in the playoffs will be crucial for any agreement.
Siegel does admit that there could be challenges in carrying out a Marner transfer, though. With his no-movement clause, Marner has a lot of power and may veto any deal that he thinks would be bad for the team. Because of this condition and the fact that he will soon be a free agent, prospective teams will want to know if Marner plans to stay and sign an extension.
Some of the players who would return to Toronto as part of these suggested transactions would require new contracts. It is essential that Toronto comprehend the requirements for extending specific contracts.
Things Could Get Complicated With This Marner Contract/Trade Situation
Regarding the current state of affairs involving Marner, Elliotte Friedman recently stated that supporters “shouldn’t be surprised if Marner’s situation plays out over the next season in Toronto.” Darren Ferris, Marner’s agent, has verified that there aren’t any talks going on right now regarding a trade or contract extension for this summer. Marner, who was born in Toronto, apparently wants to begin the season with the Leafs and assess his options later on. He is fully entitled to do so because he has significant negotiating power and a no-movement clause in his current $10.9 million cap-hit contract.
The Leafs are not in unfamiliar territory with Marner’s possible trade, even though they mustn’t botch a Marner move. Treliving will have an idea of what to anticipate in return from past transactions. Even so, a deal is far from guaranteed because every Marner trade has multiple moving components.
