Could the Toronto Maple Leafs turn Mitch Marner’s likely departure into a string of big moves during the week of the NHL draft and free agency? With growing belief that Marner will leave, Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos and others are reporting the Leafs are exploring several potentially big moves.
Among them are a sign-and-trade to recoup value in the Marner loss, two potentially big blue line additions, and possibly letting John Tavares walk. Some or none of what’s being speculated may come to pass, but the speculation will make for an interesting few days.
Is a Marner Sign-and-Trade an Option?
Kypreos writes that several teams are preparing big offers in anticipation of Marner hitting the open market. The Leafs are aware they’re going to lose the forward, but there’s talk they might make one last effort to get something out of his departure beyond cap space. A sign-and-trade would allow them to get an asset back, taking a contract from a team like Vegas, who wants to clear cap space to go after Marner.
If Vegas moves someone like William Karlsson or Tomas Hertl back, it gives the Leafs a top scoring threat, but also allows the Golden Knights to add Marner on an eight-year extension instead of seven. That would help keep his cap hit lower.
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Vegas seems like the most plausible fit for this type of deal, but Dallas and Jason Robertson could be an intriguing long shot.
Latest on John Tavares
According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, contract talks between the Toronto Maple Leafs and captain John Tavares are ongoing, with both sides motivated but still apart on key terms. He writes:
“It’s been a grind. But what’s important to note is they’re keeping at it. The dialogue is almost daily. The sides are motivated to find a way to get it done, although the closer next Tuesday gets, the more real the idea of Tavares, 34, dipping his toes becomes.”
source – ‘NHL rumblings: What it’d take to move Karlsson, plus latest on Tavares, Marchand, Ekblad, Bouchard’ – Pierre LeBrun – The Athletic – 06-25-2025
Tavares, 34, is reportedly willing to take less than market value to remain in Toronto, with a potential four-year, $5 million AAV deal seen as a deal he might eventually accept. That said, recent contract extensions for Matt Duchene and Brock Nelson are influencing negotiations and could explain the delay in this…
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