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How the Toronto Maple Leafs Can Win a Mitch Marner Trade

The thing about trading Mitch Marner is, once you do so, you’ve immediately lost the trade because no player you get back is as good or better than the player you just moved. At least, that’s going to be the case 99.9% of the time and it poses a potential issue for the Toronto Maple Leafs who say they don’t want to trade Marner, but are having to balance being stuck with a core that didn’t get it done in the playoffs and making significant roster changes.

Related: For the Maple Leafs Signing Alex Galchenyuk Is a No Brainer


Luke Fox of Sportsnet was asked if the Leafs can win a Marner trade and he had an interesting response as part of his recent mailbag segment. Fox writes that while there’s a ton of talk surrounding “2021’s highest-paid winger extending his playoff goal drought to 18 games”, Marner’s teammates, and almost everyone involved in an executive position on the team have stated they believe in the player. Still, Fox notes:

…if management has any appetite for a summer blockbuster, the structure of Marner’s frontloaded deal — much like Nylander’s — makes him an enticing target for organizations trying to save actual dollars in a pandemic-crushed business.

But, again, how do the Toronto Maple Leafs win that trade?

Fox argues that fans who mention names like Patrik Laine, Matthew Tkachuk or Seth Jones aren’t realizing that probably won’t get it done. All are good players, but none are as good as Marner. There are really only two ways the Leafs look at the option of a trade. First, “the return would have to align with his [Dubas] bet-on-young-skill vision and make Toronto a better team now.” Second, it would have to include Jack Eichel coming over from the Buffalo Sabres.

Fox’s Thoughts on Eichel

The scribe contends that if Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams calls about moving Eichel to the Maple Leafs, Dubas should have a long conversation about it. Eichel is one of the few players that doesn’t fit on most other teams because of his $10-million cap hit, but in the Leafs case, he would actually save them an extra $903,000 in annual cap space.

Jack Eichel UD Rookie Card

Fox adds that the injury to John Tavares exposed a lack of depth at center and Eichel would be a nice fit for the Leafs. Even with Tavares in the lineup, as he ages, his production is likely to decrease. He’ll be 31 when the 2021-22 season starts and his footspeed might mean moving him to the wing in his later years, much like the Tampa Bay Lightning did with Steven Stamkos.

So too, Dubas wants to address “killer instinct” issues and if there’s a player on the Maple Leafs roster many might argue doesn’t have it, it’s Marner. Eichel is a question mark because he’s yet to make the playoffs. That said, one would assume he’d be motivated if and when he finally gets there.

An Eichel for Marner Trade is Still Risky

The big concern for Maple Leafs fans is Eichel’s health. It’s a serious question mark and recent reports suggest teams that were in on trade talks are dropping out because it’s too risky a gamble. If he doesn’t recover as expected or if Eichel moves forward with the questionable surgery, teams don’t want to give up massive assets for a player who is damaged goods.

In the case of the Maple Leafs, that’s really a deal-breaker since Marner is still incredibly productive.

In the end, the best way to win a Marner trade is probably not to make it. If another season goes by and the same playoff result presents itself, you know there’s a problem that must be addressed. Right now, the Leafs are not in that area where, should they not trade Marner, the season is a wash. He’s not produced when it matters most, but that doesn’t mean he never will.

Next: Kucherov Has Message for Dougie Hamilton After Salary Cap Comments

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Randy Alexander

    June 12, 2021 at 12:46 pm

    The key of course is Eichel’s health. I like the base of this trade, maybe include a pick Leaf’s way as I believe Leaf’s have no 1st, 4th, 5th. Matthews/Eichel would be unbeatable 1,2 Ctr. Marner is just too overpaid as an awesome playmaking winger. He played left flank on PP all year and never got 1 PP goal.

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