With the Toronto Maple Leafs eliminated from the first round, their off-season started earlier than many had hoped and with that comes another series of rumours and potential trade proposals regarding some of their marquee players.
Mitch Marner has become the scapegoat for a variety of reasons but it is understood that he has most likely played his last game as a member of the Maple Leafs. With a no-movement clause and a cap hit of 10.9 million, trading for Marner won't be easy but it's deal like these that make you wonder what some people are really thinking:
Hannah Stuart took to Bleacher Report and wrote an article on 4 teams with realistic trade packages for Marner. One of the proposed deal has the Maple Leafs trading Marner to Utah for Alex Kerfoot, Maveric Lamoureux, and a 2024 2nd round pick.
Kerfoot is a 7-year veteran with 524 games under his belt including 285 in a Maple Leaf sweater. He was acquired in the summer of 2019 in the blockbuster trade that sent Nazem Kadri to Colorado. In his 4 years with Toronto, Kerfoot amassed just 40 goals and 134 points but did manage a career-high 51 points in 2021-22. He struggled mightily at the end of his tenure before walking as a free agent and signing a 2-year deal with Arizona last summer.
Lamoureux was drafted in the first round in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and has spent his entire 4-year junior career with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. He only suited up in 39 games this season for the eventual QMJHL champions due to a bout with mononucleosis and recorded 33 points.
The 6'7 defenseman is a right-handed shot and should be looking to make his way to the big leagues in short order, although his junior numbers don't bring about a lot of confidence in his offensive abilities.
Some of the other deals listed in the article include Marner being traded to New Jersey for John Marino and a 2025 first round pick, Marner to Chicago for Oliver Moore, Kevin Korchinski, and Tampa Bay's 2024 first round pick, and Marner to Vegas for Shea Theodore and their 2024 first round pick.
The latter two proposals aren't as bad and could bring about some actual intrigue, although it's tough to overlook the Utah deal just based on how unimpressive that haul would be for a player that can generate 100 points in a full 82-game season.
4 Teams with Realistic Trade Packages for Maple Leafs Forward Mitch Marner
POLL | ||
16 MAI | 306 ANSWERS Laughable Mitch Marner trade proposal should be rejected immediately Which Mitch Marner deal is most intriguing? | ||
Marner to Chicago | 78 | 25.5 % |
Marner to New Jersey | 39 | 12.7 % |
Marner to Utah | 93 | 30.4 % |
Marner to Vegas | 96 | 31.4 % |
List of polls |