Hockey Experts Discuss Blockbuster Trade Between the Maple Leafs and the Avalanche Involving Mitch Marner

It's the time of the year for trade speculation and rumor, and while the deadline is still a few months away, it doesn't stop analysts, pundits, and fans from thinking of the boldest package they can think of to help their team. According to the latest TNT Panel, their idea has brought a wonderful bit of intrigue.

Speaking during intermission, the panel of Anson Carter, Colby Armstrong, Paul Bissonnette and Liam McHugh discussed a potential Rantanen/Marner swap:

This was rebuffed quickly by the panel as McHugh asked boldly:

Carter responded that it wasn't going to happen now, but dependent on how the regular season turns out. Bissonnette responded to the idea:

It would certainly be the shake-up of all shake-ups. Both players are the NHL's most elite, and Rantanen and Marner are often neck and neck when it comes to being in the points leader race.

The comparisons between the two players show that they have nearly identical career trajectories,which makes sense considering they were drafted six spots away from each other (Marner 4th, Rantanen 10th).

Rantanen is more of a goal scorer, Marner is a playmaker.

It seems counterintuitive to give Auston Matthews another goal scorer, but Marner and Matthews need to be separated anyways for both to become better.

Rantanen also eases the load on Matthews and isn't a playmaking slouch either, with 373 assists so far. So giving Rantanen a chance to play alongside Bobby McMann and William Nylander might create some unbelievable magic for the Leafs.

Marner would give Nathan MacKinnon a player comparable to Rantanen with more playmaking and the ability to take over for Gabriel Landeskog as his future is currently unknown and MacKinnon can certainly benefit from a player with nearly 500 assists to compliment MacKinnon's 342 career goals.

He also gets the ability to play in a much smaller spotlight and not have his focus turn to the media and their constant critiques.

Plus the thought of a Marner, MacKinnon, Makar pairing on the powerplay and their top line is too enticing to pass up; that's a trio that could potentially put up 300 points combined if they find chemistry together.

In closing, it might seem like a ridiculous proposition to trade Mitch Marner for Mikko Rantanen, but there have been blockbuster trades like this before, and it could be the next to shake up the NHL.