No. 2: Patrick Marleau ($700K)
Reunited and it feels so good…
The 41-year-old, Marleau, is still searching for a ring. After signing with Toronto a few seasons ago with hopes of lifting Lord Stanley, he never got that opportunity. Now that his buddy Joe Thornton is on the Leafs, maybe he would be open to heading back to Toronto for another crack at a Stanley Cup.
When Marleau joined the Leafs, he clearly found a bond with Matthews and Marner and was a leader in the room. Even if he’s a healthy scratch some nights or plays limited fourth-line minutes, bringing Marleau back into the fold would be an amazing opportunity.
Imagine a Marleau-Thornton-Spezza line, it would probably be the oldest trio in the NHL.
Although Marleau is on his last legs as a professional hockey player, returning to a city that provided him great memories with great friends could be good for him and the team. After having so much chemistry with Thornton, playing together again could spark old memories and help create new ones.
It’s probably a pipe-dream for the Leafs to trade an asset for a 41-year-old Marleau, but it would make for one great story.