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Trading Mitch Marner Just Became an Even More Ridiculous Idea

By James Tanner

Apr 27, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) scores a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period in game four of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY
Apr 27, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) scores a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period in game four of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY / Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
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For the Toronto Maple Leafs, trading Mitch Marner was always a bad idea.

The reasons not to do it are legion: Mitch Marner is the second-best player in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise, he's an elite player with 4 x straight seasons scoring at a 100 point pace, he has 6 x straight seasons scoring at a 90 point pace, he's an elite defender, the team would be trading from a position of weakness, he has a full no-movement clause, the Leafs would almost certainly lose the trade, and he's just entering his prime now.

You could go on, but the reason to trade him list is incredibly short:

Some poorly informed, overly emotional people are upset.

It's a no-brainer to keep him, but the NHL just also made it into a slam-dunk, a grand-slam and a no-doubter as well.

Trading Mitch Marner Now That the Cap Is Going Way Up Makes No Sense

The only reason to maybe even consider this would be for some cap relief so that the Leafs could get the long-sought number-one goalie and defenseman.

However, that was always a bad idea because it ignores the fact that the Leafs have $18 million in cap space, with another $7 million that is currently the most poorly spent $7 million in the NHL.

They also scratched $11 million in game-six vs Boston, so making massive cap-related moves always seemed pretty far-fetched and ridiculous.

But the cap is going up $4.5 million this year, up to $88 million. It is expected to rise at least that much again next year. The belt-tightening of the Covid Years, at least in the NHL, is over.

The Leafs Big Three Four contracts couldn't have been timed worse, but it isn't anyone's fault. The fact is though, they've negotiated those years and cap space shouldn't be an issue going forward.

And to be fair, it never really was an issue. The Leafs have been a top team this whole time, and they were, when they picked up Ryan O'Reilly, the NHL's deepest and best roster, despite the Big Four Contracts.

John Tavares contract comes off the books after next year. The cap will go up almost the amount that Marner makes over the next two seasons.

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Last week, trading Mitch Marner was an incredibly bad idea. This week, it's moved into the realm of being completely preposterous and down-right stupid. Not to mention totally unnecessary.

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