The Toronto Maple Leafs could look much different next season, as Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun reports that the team has made everyone available but two players.
Following Toronto being eliminated by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the front office said everything would be considered. Mitch Marner and John Tavares became the two players involved in most trade rumors.
Except for Auston Matthews and William Nylander, Simmons claims that Toronto has made it plain that everyone is available for trade in his most recent piece for the Toronto Sun.
“This is the plan, if there is one: The Leafs have essentially informed the hockey community that they are in trade mode. With the exception of Auston Matthews and William Nylander, almost everyone is up for grabs, according to Simmons’ report. “Those close to general manager Brad Treliving say the plan is to create a Leafs team that can compete more come playoff time—one that is better and more difficult to play against, with a stronger defense and a more reliable goalie.”
As Simmons writes, the goal for the Maple Leafs is to get stronger defensively and better in the net, while also becoming a more complete team. Currently, the Maple Leafs have over $46 million in salary for their four core forwards, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, and Tavares so Toronto could look to trade one or two of them and use that money on multiple players to build out their depth.
Maple Leafs’ Plan for Marner
With one year remaining on his six-year, $65 million contract, Marner is the greatest trade asset available to Toronto.
Marner must authorize every deal, though, as he is subject to a complete no-movement provision. According to Simmons, until a deal is reached, Toronto won’t ask Marner to waive his no-movement provision.
“The NHL is aware that Marner offers are open for business. A 95-point, penalty-killing winger who is available how often is that? In this case, the Leafs will not put the cart before the horse. They’ll pay attention. They will only involve Marner in the process and attempt to persuade him to seek elsewhere if one of the bids satisfies their requirements, according to Simmons.
“If a Marner agreement cannot be reached, than expected. The Leafs need help in goal and on defense and, with next-to-no money to spend, what’s Treliving to do?,” Simmons added.
Marner recorded 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points in 69 regular season games last year. In the playoffs, he added 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points in 7 games.
Toronto Hired Craig Berube as New Coach
The Maple Leafs will have a new head coach for the 2024-25 NHL season.
After Toronto was eliminated in the playoffs, the Maple Leafs fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team then hired former St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube on May 17.
Berube was the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers for two seasons. He was the coach of the Blues from 2018 until 2023 and he helped lead the team to a Stanley Cup in 2019.
Berube becomes the 32nd coach in the Maple Leafs history.
