Former Leaf identifies the best trade chip for the Leafs, shares his thoughts on why this core needs a shake-up
For the Toronto Maple Leafs, the way their playoffs ended is likely going to force some pretty significant changes this summer. We can all feel it coming. Some may be more prepared for it than others, but I think we all know in our heart of hearts that the core, as it is constructed right now, might be just flawed enough to the point where having these spoils of riches in the Core 4 may be more of a hinderance than a help. The team might be better served to trade one and either spread the money out across several positions, or simply just bring someone else in to give the team a bit of a different look, even if it does remain a little more top-heavy.
Yesterday on TSN1050's First Up, former Leaf Carlo Colaiacovo and host Aaron Korolnek addressed the need for change in Toronto and touched on who they believe will be the odd-man out. Colaiacovo seems to believe that Nylander might be the guy the Leafs will attempt to move simply because of his contract status and the sizeable raise he'll be due on his next deal. Meanwhile, Korolnek believes that Marner should be the guy moved, due in large to his cap hit being larger, which could give the Leafs a lot more money to spend, depending on who comes back in the deal.
Colaiacovo: "We're talking about really good players and the Maple Leafs are lucky to have really good players on their team and you shouldn't go in there and drop a bomb and blow it up. The Maple Leafs are a really good team and I think people are forgetting that. But, the combination of these really good players that the Maple Leafs have, have just shown they are not capable of getting the job done together, which is why I believe that the problem with this team getting over the hump has to start there. You need a different mix.
"My belief is that William Nylander is going to be guy - the odd man out. Whether it's right or it's wrong. Look, he's a 40-goal scorer, he took huge strides - he was one of the better guys in the playoffs. But he knows that he wants a pay raise and he deserves one, but he probably also believes that the Maple Leafs aren't going to be the team that give it to him, which is why I believe he's going to be the odd man out."
"My belief is that William Nylander is going to be guy - the odd man out. Whether it's right or it's wrong. Look, he's a 40-goal scorer, he took huge strides - he was one of the better guys in the playoffs. But he knows that he wants a pay raise and he deserves one, but he probably also believes that the Maple Leafs aren't going to be the team that give it to him, which is why I believe he's going to be the odd man out."
Korolnek pointed out that the Leafs aren't going to be moving Auston Matthews and the fact that captain John Tavares is quite literally unmovable, given his full NMC. Here's what he had to say about Marner being the best piece to move.
Korolnek: "The same thing can apply to Mitch Marner, where he's going to make more money than William Nylander, so in theory, you'd create more cap space. I think Marner is a better player than Nylander is, but I don't think the gap is absolutely huge either. I think you have to consider both. I don't think Matthews is going to be moved. I don't think Tavares is going to be moved or can be moved, so you're looking at two. But at the same time, just because you're looking to shake up your core, it doesn't mean necessarily that you HAVE to do it before the draft or in free agency. In theory, you could do it during the season."
While Korolnek mentioned that the Leafs could look to move one of these players in-season, but that may not be possible in Marner's case, unless he wants to leave. Marner's full NMC kicks in on July 1st. Meanwhile, Nylander has a modified NTC that kicks in on July 1st as well, which would allow him to submit a 10-team no-trade list, which could complicate things. So, while he believes that the Leafs aren't under the gun to complete a trade, it would definitely benefit the team more to do it at the draft or at some point before July 1st to avoid any potential headaches.
| POLL | ||
MAI 19 | 195 ANSWERS Former Leaf identifies the best trade chip for the Leafs, shares his thoughts on why this core needs a shake-up Do you agree with Colaiacovo that the Leafs as a whole are not as good as the individual players? | ||
| Yes | 176 | 90.3 % |
| No | 19 | 9.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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