The Toronto Maple Leafs got some great news today.
According to reports from Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Patrick Marleau are breaking up.
Marleau is apparently willing to waive his (ridiculous) no-movement clause and accept a trade back to the west coast.
For the Leafs, it’s like throwing a party and having that one guest you are obligated to invite, but don’t like, cancelling.
Marleau to the West Coast
The biggest problem facing the Toronto Maple Leafs was the cap constraints caused by paying a 39 year old future hall of famer $6.25 million dollars to score less per minute than Frederik Gauthier.
Now that problem is solved.
The only concern now? What it’s going to cost to facilitate a trade.
The Leafs could take back slightly less in salary in exchange for taking on a longer term player.
They could take a player with a more buy-out friendly deal (you can’t save on buying out a player who signed post age 35).
They could pay assets for someone to just take the contract.
They could take back players, then work to move those players and contracts to other teams.
The only thing they can’t do is trade Marleau in a hockey trade and get back an asset.
Teams that could potentially take Marleau, according to Kypreos last night on Hockey Night in Canada, are Arizona, Los Angeles, Colorado or San Jose.
Who knows if the Leafs broached this subject with Marleau, if it’s a situation of quit before you’re fired, or if he just really actually wants to leave (although why would a 39 year old really want to leave a Cup Contender to play for a non-playoff team?)
Honestly, it doesn’t matter why. This a home-run for the Leafs in that their worst and most expensive – potentially unmovable – player has requested he be moved. It’s like Christmas in June.
The Leafs are in absolutely fantastic shape if they can rid themselves of the Marleau contract. Consider that it’s just 3/4 of a million less than they’re paying the 22 year old Nylander (whose contract will prove to be a mega-team-friendly deal).
This will pave the way for the Toronto Maple Leafs to pay Mitch Marner and upgrade their defense.
Next June, when the Leafs are lifting the Stanley Cup, they’ll have Patrick Marleau to thank – just not exactly for the reasons we originally thought.
Lost in the hoopla of celebration, is the fact that Marleau is a Hall of Famer who gave the Leafs two years of mentorship for their young stars. This may prove to be invaluable, and if the Leafs do get out of the final year of his contract, it will have come without cost.