If the Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Mitch Marner It Would Be a Massive Mistake

The Maple Leafs Do Not Have a Salary Cap Problem

Despite what most people believe, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not going to be strapped against the Salary Cap this offseason. In fact, they are quite the opposite. 

The Maple Leafs have 12 contracts coming off the books this season, freeing up $24,059,167. In addition to that, the NHL's salary cap is being raised by $4,125,000, the most significant raise since the 2018 offseason.

This will give the Maple Leafs $28,184,167 to work with, but when you factor in Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Bobby McMann and Simon Benoits contract extensions that come into effect next season, the Leafs will have $20,861,780 to work with

Realistically, this would be more than enough money to fill the holes in the Leafs roster. 

Here is a quick breakdown of those holes the Maple Leafs have to fill, assuming they don't want to move on from Jarnkrok, Kampf, Reaves and Holmberg as the 3C.

Knies - Matthews - Marner
Hole - Tavares - Nylander
McMann - Holmberg - Jarnkrok
Hole - Kampf - Reaves

Reilly - Hole
McCabe - Hole
Benoit - Hole

Woll
Hole

Looking at it this way, the Leafs could spend an average of 3.5 million dollars per player to fill out this roster. They will likely be able to re-sign restricted free agents Nick Robertson and Timothy Liljegren for below that price. 

Given Robertson's offensive production last season, he is ready for a much bigger role with this team and could consistently slot in in the top six forwards; Liljegren continues to improve and will be acceptable to play on the Leafs' second pairing. 

This projected lineup assumes that none of the Leafs prospects is ready to jump to the NHL. Still, some of these prospects would be prepared to play, considering Fraser Minten had a phenomenal year in the WHL, and Easton Cowen dominated the OHL. 

The Maple Leafs will be able to use the bulk of this salary cap space to find a starting goaltender in case Woll is not the guy for the job and two defencemen: one bona fide defender who can play on the top line with Reilly and a puck mover to slot in beside Simon Benoit. 

Given that both Marner and John Taveres's contracts expire next season, it would be reckless for the Leafs to try to create a salary cap by getting into trade talks surrounding Marner, considering they have little to no leverage.

The Maple Leafs need to make some changes, but those changes cannot include selling one of the best players in franchise history for pennies on the dollar just because they are disappointed with the team's playoff results.