Toronto Maple Leafs Unlikely to Trade Mitch Marner Before July 1st

Marner Trade Options for Toronto Maple Leafs: Western Conference

Nashville Predators

Trading Marner to the Nashville Predators could lead to the Leafs acquiring goaltender Juuse Saros. Both Marner and Saros need contract extensions beyond next season. Perhaps both teams could agree to contract extensions with the players before a deal is finalized. Saros has one more season on his current deal worth $5 million. With $26 million in available cap space, the Predators could take on Marner's $10.9 million cap hit, especially with almost half of that amount going back to the Leafs in Saros.

Saros posted a 35-24-5 record with three shutouts in 64 games. He finished the regular season with a 2.86 GAA and a .906 SV%. He is not a proven playoff-winning goaltender, but one of the better goaltenders available via trade.

Colorado Avalanche

Trading Marner to the Colorado Avalanche would involve multiple players coming to the Leafs, as the Avalanche would be losing a large chunk of their $15.9 million cap space by adding Marner's $10.9 million. Marner might be willing to waive his NMC to go to a proven winner with a chance to play with Nathan MacKinnon.

A possible trade with the Avalanche could net the Leafs forward Casey Mittlestadt, defenseman Josh Manson, and the combination of draft picks and prospects.

Mittlestadt registered 18 goals and 39 assists for 57 points in 80 games split between the Buffalo Sabres and the Avalanche. Manson is a Craig Berube type of defenseman with 109 blocked shots and 211 hits to go along with his 25 points in 76 games.