Top 3 players the Toronto Maple Leafs should trade after disappointing season

3. Mitch Marner

The Big Four era isn’t working out for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They haven’t won a playoff series in four years. Yes, you can point to the Washington Capitals, who were patient with their core. But at least their core won some playoff series even before they won the Stanley Cup in 2018. Something’s not right with the Leafs core and it needs a shakeup.

John Tavares has a no-movement clause, so you can rule him out. There’s no way in heck the Leafs should consider trading Auston Matthews, who was by a significant margin their best forward in the regular season and postseason. That leaves William Nylander and Mitch Marner.

I’ll concede that Marner is likely the better player of the two. However, Nylander’s contract is much better than Marner’s. Nylander proved this season he’s worth his $6.962 million cap hit. If anything, he proved he’s worth more.

Marner is the better player of the two, but the difference between Nylander and Marner is honestly not that big. It’s certainly not big enough to justify Marner’s $10.893 million cap hit.

Clearing his cap hit would give the Leafs the cap flexibility required to pursue some upgrades. Maybe they could target Robin Lehner (assuming they trade Andersen). Perhaps the Leafs could go after Alex Pietrangelo, who would give their blueline a huge boost. If you want cheaper options, how about Brenden Dillon and Sami Vatanen?

Marner’s cap hit is probably going to scare most teams away. But he’s one of the most gifted and talented forwards in the league. I think the Leafs will find a fair trade out there. Even if Toronto has to retain $1 million or $2 million in the trade, getting Marner’s contract off the books would be huge.