After another disappointing playoff run, Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving and President of Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan firmly noted that 'everything is on the table' in order to help push the team to the pinnacle of the NHL.
The most talked about and rumoured change is dismantling the "Core 4", specifically moving John Tavares or Mitch Marner as they are both in the final year of their current contracts.
Tavares has openly stated that he plans to play the final year of his deal in Toronto, and while Marner has implied the same and has said he wants to stay in Toronto long-term, it seems he is being pushed out by fans and the media.
At a cap hit of $10.9M moving Marner's contract is no small feat and he would obviously have to agree to waive his no-movement clause, but what Berstein said makes sense. The combined cap hit of Karlsson and Theodore is $11.1M. By moving the pair for Marner, the Knights actually gain cap space, while the extra $200K the Leafs would have to take on doesn't hinder their off-season much, if at all. The Leafs are also reportedly willing to pay Marner's $7.25M signing bonus, which is due on July 1st if it helps facilitate a trade.
This isn't the first time Vegas has come up as the likely destination for Marner, given that they are a perennial contender, are a tax-free state, are willing to spend and have the asset(s) the Leafs may covet.
POLL | ||
MAI 31 | 664 ANSWERS Insider claims to know Mitch Marner's landing spot and the actual trade return Would you trade Marner for Shea Theodore and William Karlsson? | ||
Absolutely | 200 | 30.1 % |
Only if Theodore comes with an extension | 198 | 29.8 % |
No, it has the makings of the Tkachuk trade | 266 | 40.1 % |
List of polls |