02 Mar 2018 22:49:31
Leafs should trade during the draft

Patrick Marleau
Matt Martin

Martin due to obvious reasons

Why is do we need to get rid of Marleau?

1. Marleau is a 38 year old 2nd-3rd line player who gets paid 6.25 million which is more money than is paid to 1st line player Kucherov, Hall or Tavares. Why do you think no one else wanted to sign him...

2. LW 23 year old Andress Johnsson is averaging a more than a point per game and is going to want to play in the nhl. So one of the left wingers needs to leave.

Hyman is not leaving because he has good chemistry, he's a hard working player and he is worth what he is paid.

JVR is not leaving because he gives depth to the team, you can't trade a person who is going to resign, good chemistry, and he played for toronto a long time so he is well liked.

Komarov is not leaving because you can't trade a person who is going to resign, though he is overpaid his contract ends this year, very good defensively.

Who will want to take them?

A team who wants to develop their players, a team who has of cap space and a team who needs left wings.

Most likely: Edmonton Oilers

Why?

1. Cammalleri's contract is ending and Lucic has not preformed as the oilers thought he would do.

2. They are projected to have 8.5 million in cap next year they currently have 44 million in cap 3rd most cap space.

3. Edmonton has a lot of players they need to develop.

1.) 03 Mar 2018
03 Mar 2018 01:33:47
@LeafsFuture, I agree that Martin no longer fits within the team's progressive vision. But trading away Mr. Iron Man "Patrick Marleau" is not going to happen. Not by a long shot when he still averages 20-plus goals a year; is versatile, durability and dependable to coach/ play with.

JVR on the other hand - albeit a good hockey player lacks certain qualities that Marleau does (i. e. Speed and Back-Checking) . Plus he will want $6M per season to stay on the team and that would just handicap the teams younger LW core (i. e. Johnsson, Grundström, etc. ) who will be looking to break into the lineup next year. As for Komarov, he is a wildcard to stay.

2.) 03 Mar 2018
03 Mar 2018 03:42:03
Marleau’s contract is front end loaded. It was designed for him to be traded the last year of his contract. If the Leafs decide to trade him before he becomes a UfFA, he will probably go back to San Jose where he will retire. As it rightly should be. So far, signing Marleau has worked out very well, and unless he completely falls apart next year, he provides us another scoring threat on the wing, or can be switched to center if need be.

I don’t see how Edmonton would find trading for Marleau an attractive option. They are once again in remodelling phase, and will be looking at shedding some of their own contracts if they can. Lucic has a NMC, and will be hard to trade with that bloated contract of his.

Leafs made a good signing in Marleau. Can’t say the same about Edmonton and Lucic.

3.) 03 Mar 2018
03 Mar 2018 03:45:21
If Edmonton has a lot of players to develop, why would they bring in Marleau to take up a roster spot. You used the same argument that the leafs have players developing that we need to make room to play, to trade Marleau. Don’t you think Edmonton would want to do the same. You can’t use the same argument for both points of view.

4.) 03 Mar 2018
03 Mar 2018 13:24:38
Comparing Marleau, who was signed as a UFA vs. players like Kucherov who were RFA's when they signed those contracts is an apples to oranges comparison and a very poor argument.

5.) 03 Mar 2018
03 Mar 2018 18:13:09
@LeafsFuture - I think everyone is in a wait and see more in terms of what will need to be done with this roster moving forward. Management would definitely benefit from another playoff year to assess what they already have before making decisions on players including their pending UFA’s.

@unsportsmanlike is right on with the contract comparisons as Tavares et. al. signed theirs awhile ago. It’s been well speculated that Tavares stands to at least double his salary when his new contract is signed.

@ShanapLan, I really liked what you shared about Marleau and JVR. I thought your response made a lot of sense and really summed up this thread well.

@LeafsFuture, it would be unwise for the Leafs to sign players like Marleau only to unload them after one season. Babcock had articulated once during an interview about making Toronto a safe place for veteran players to play in; and when they do so, more quality players like Marleau will choose to do so. Marleau was also signed for many intangible qualities and for his mentorship role in showing the younger players how things are done game in and game out. We can’t have an entire roster of youth and hope they find their way. Veterans are essential in creating balance in team dynamics.