Leafs May Have a Chance to Upgrade on Mitch Marner if They Play the Patience Game
The Toronto Maple Leafs could get the right deal done as they look to balance keeping competitive while staying under the cap with multiple large deals already pinned down, even without having to pay up for Mitch Marner.
On TNT's hockey broadcast, the crew discussed a potential trade involving Mitch Marner to the Colorado Avalanche for fellow pending UFA Mikko Rantanen.
Former NHLer Anson Carter made the argument for a Rantanen/Marner swap:
"Hear me out. Marner is not making more than Nathan MacKinnon, if there's an internal cap on MacKinnon, if that's what's holding up his deal; bring Marner into Colorado and Rantanen heads to Toronto 'cause theoretically you can pay Rantanen more than you do Auston Matthews."
TSN Hockey insider Pierre LeBrun reported that Rantanen is looking for a contract around $14M, an amount he could potentially make on the open free agent market, and one the Avalanche may have trouble paying due to their salary cap being high.
The argument from Anson Carter is that Marner may end up making less than Rantanen as a free agent, and they could do a swap that gives Rantanen a team able to pay him $14M in Toronto.
The Leafs are expected to take a discount with John Tavares, compared to Colorado, and Marner will make less than Rantanen, but around the same as Nathan MacKinnon at $12.6M.
Could a Mitch Marner for Mikko Rantanen Swap Work?
There are two questions to be had with this. First, would Colorado do this?
Even if they can't afford Rantanen, they'd still have to move out a piece to sign Marner to make the cap work. One Leafs fan said to give Rantanen at least $1M more than what is offered to Marner.
The pieces they could move out might not cover the cost of Marner, however they have players like Ross Colton and Artturi Lehkonen who make a combined $8.5M and might be privy to dump their contracts to save some money.
Secondly, and most fair to point out, Rantanen are Marner are not all that different. Marner and Rantanen are similarly matched players.
Both were drafted in the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Marner having gone 4th to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Rantanen 10th to the Colorado Avalanche.
Statistically, both are quite similar as well. Marner has 203 goals, 465 assists & 668 points in 598 games played, along with 9 goals and 29 points in 22 games this season for Toronto.
Rantanen has 277 goals, 374 assists & 651 points in 594 games played, along with 15 goals and 34 points this season.
The one advantage in Rantanen's career, a Stanley Cup victory with the Colorado Avalanche won in 2022. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in dire need of a cup winner.
The Leafs have already shown themselves as valuing the ability to win, acquiring three players from the most recent Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Anthony Stolarz, & Steven Lorentz.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, who value a winner, could make the move to gain a proven winner with a great track record, but the question is if Colorado is willing to make such an expensive deal.
FAQ: Toronto Maple Leafs Can Add Similar Player To Mitch Marner Through Free Agency
Q1: Who is the free agent Toronto could add that is similar to Mitch Marner?
A1: Mikko Rantanen is the free agent Toronto could pursue as he offers a comparable statistical career to Marner as well as provide Toronto a bit more goal scoring at a potentially cheaper value than Marner.
Q2: How much money would Mikko Rantanen cost Toronto?
A2: It's unknown how much Rantanen is looking for, but according to Pierre Lebrun and other analysts, he wants to earn more than the $12.6M his teammate Nathan MacKinnon is making.
In closing, Mikko Rantanen would add a bigger scoring punch than Mitch Marner without sacrificing playmaking, and add a proven winner to a team desperate for success. The only question is does Colorado have the heart to part with such a key member of their recent success?
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 30 | 603 ANSWERS Leafs May Have a Chance to Upgrade on Mitch Marner if They Play the Patience Game Who is the better NHLer? | ||
| Mikko Rantanen | 120 | 19.9 % |
| Mitch Marner | 302 | 50.1 % |
| Both players are equal | 181 | 30 % |
| List of polls | ||
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