Mitch Marner Sign-and-Trade Report Sparks Concern for Leafs Fans Ahead of Free Agency
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
There may be a new wrench thrown into the Mitch Marner saga, as a new report reveals the Maple Leafs may look to do a sign-and-trade with the Florida Panthers.
While the news surrounding Mitch Marner ramps up more and more as free agency looms, the Maple Leafs are going to have some tough decisions to make, especially once he hits the market on July 1.
Toronto could utilize sign-and-trade in order to recoup assets for a departing Marner
So instead of losing him for nothing, a new report from Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects shows that the team may be willing to look at a sign-and-trade deal involving Marner, and where he would end up going? None other than the Florida Panthers:
There's real smoke that the Florida Panthers could be gearing up to make a run at Marner. Word is that Toronto has opened the door to a sign-and-trade scenario, where they ink Marner to a max-term extension (eight years) and then flip him to recoup some level of value. - Cam Robinson
While the level of value isn't explicitly stated, it's hard to imagine the Maple Leafs getting a huge return but let's look at what he could possibly fetch.
Toronto trades Marner to Florida for Verhaeghe, Mikkola
It's not going to bring Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Seth Jones or even Anton Lundell over but it could very well bring Verhaeghe.
He's making a reasonable amount of money, has scored 120 goals over his last four seasons, is locked up until 2033, and is only slightly older than Marner. He would also be a huge replacement in the playoff production department, with 72 points in only 88 games.
Verhaeghe can easily slot onto Auston Matthews' right side, and would actually bring him back to the place he was drafted to in 2013; he was traded as part of the Michael Grabner deal with the New York Islanders.
Toronto would also acquire Mikkola, a shutdown defender with a ton of size and length, who hits like a freight train and puts his body on the line. He's only 29, and has picked up his offensive game considerably over the past two seasons (39; as opposed to the 21 he had the four years prior).
He is a free agent next summer, but he is only making $2.5M and while he would be due for a raise, he won't break the bank especially with a rising salary cap. Mikkola would be an improvement for Simon Benoit, and offers a very similar style with better two-way play.
Does this trade give Toronto a replacement for Marner's production?
No, probably not but it does give Craig Berube a solid offensive option for the next several years with playoff and Cup winning experience, and a rugged defenseman on the cheap who can stick around the next 3-4 years afterwards.
So here's how the trade would potentially look:
To Toronto:
To Florida:
(F) Mitch Marner (signs 8-year extension at $14M)
This gives Marner the destination he wants, with a chance to constantly be competitive while also being kept out of the spotlight and media pressure in Toronto.
The Leafs meanwhile get a chance to move on from Marner but replace him with someone who has been as reliable and productive as ever over the last few years, at half the price, and bring in a solid defenseman as well.
It might not be perfect, and it might feel like a drastic overpayment; but this isn't going to fetch a premium return.
Though this is about as close as they can get.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 8 | 465 ANSWERS Mitch Marner Sign-and-Trade Report Sparks Concern for Leafs Fans Ahead of Free Agency Should the Maple Leafs do a sign and trade to send Mitch Marner to Florida? | ||
| Yes | 289 | 62.2 % |
| No | 176 | 37.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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