The Toronto Maple Leafs have some roster questions after this season. Two of their biggest forwards will be heading into their last season under contract and will be free agents after this season. Toronto is looking for answers to bring them both back.
However, it may be impossible to bring them both back the way the roster is constructed. Would a massive trade with the Vancouver Canucks bring some relief to that problem?
Maple Leafs, Canucks set for a big shakeup?
The Maple Leafs have forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares set to be unrestricted free agents (UFA) after this season. Marner has an annual average value (AAV) of $10.9 million and Tavares has a $11 million AAV. Marner is sure to ask for more money and Tavares may want a bump also. Toronto has a projected cap space of $28.753 million for the 2025-26 season. However, they have other players besides Marner and Tavares to be re-signed for depth.
Toronto General Manager Brad Treliving may have a partner to solve the Marner and Tavares issue in the form of Vancouver General Manager Patrik Allvin. Allvin has the "luxury" of having teammates Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller at odds and making a trade may be the only way to fix this issue. Allvin has stated that he would rather not trade either and wait for this season to end. "Rather not" being the key phrase.
Pettersson has an AAV of $11.60 and MIller $8. Vancouver has a projected cap space of only $18.982 million and they could use the extra cap space to help bring this team bring in some additional assets or young players. Pettersson (2022-23) and Miller (2023-24) both reached the 100-point plateau and are in search for a new home without teammate distractions.
For Allvin to trade both to Toronto would be a big mistake considering their at odds in Vancouver
However, is he were to trade one or the other and relieve some tension only to get a massive player in return could change the landscape in Vancouver. Marner is a point producing machine and Tavares could help strengthen the center position.
Their cap hits are extremely close to one another and their positions cancel each other out. Pettersson is younger than Miller by five years so he may have more value but a good center like Miller is hard to find.
Marner, like Pettersson, would be the centerpiece of a trade between the two. Tavares, like MIller, is older and may not have that much return value. Treliving has a solid foundation with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Allvin has the same with the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. A deal between the two involving Marner and Pettersson may not be that far fetched but would they be willing to make the deal?