You're not getting either Wood or Evangelista out of Nashville. Evangelista is the only young forward we have who is meeting expectations in the NHL. Wood was drafted to be a project forward with high upside, and he still has a lot of development in front of him.

Look at the Eichel trade as a recent comp.

The counter offer is Sissons, Tomasino, and a couple of picks.

Eichel was a special case. He wanted to get a unique neck surgery and Vegas was comfortable with that. Eichel also wanted out. Buffalo didn't have a lot of leverage.

That package from NSH contains 2-3 pieces that would be off-limits for them (TBL's 1st is debatable. Personally, I'd say it's off limits, based on the very good chance it becomes an unprotected lottery pick '26).



Even that, I'd be reluctant to do. If Trotz really is intent on adding a top line winger, why would he trade for Marner before exploring UFAs? Reinhart, Guentzel, Marchessault are all options that could be had for less money/term than a Marner extension. None of them would cost any assets. They all have more playoff experience too.

I think people are forgetting how Trotz's name came up as being in conversation about every player on the market, when he first became GM. I think he's listening and gathering as much info on everyone he can, without necessarily being interested in them. Poile was the same way (but famously air-tight, about not letting his name come up in rumours like this). There are too many reasons why Marner doesn't make sense for NSH, for me to think otherwise.

This is a special case too. Leafs need to move one of the Core 4 to balance their roster out. Not a lot of teams can take an 11 mil contract with minimal or no retention. Marner has a NMC, and the Leafs don't have a ton of leverage. There's a lot of pressure from fans to get something done and Marner has obviously made himself the target of y'alls hate.

I doubt Trotz was calling the Leafs to offer up a package like this. He was most likely doing his due diligence on what Marner would cost. Not to mention it looks like he's the only GM who has called about Marner with serious intentions.

At least Eichel had a bidding war going on and multiple teams were willing to trade for him before his surgery.

I agree this is also special circumstances. But there will be a bidding war.

Marner is top 7 in points in the last 5 years. Only behind guys like McDavid, Matthews, MacKinnon, Draisaitl, Pastranak, and Panarin.

I agree I'd rather explore a UFA, but Marner is exactly what Nashville has never been able to draft and develop. He fits what Trotz said we needed which is someone who gets people out of their seats. I'd love a Sam Reinhart, but I also think Marner is going to be available for a reasonable price. If that's the case it's worth exploring what the cost would be.

I also agree with the Trotz sentiment he's calling everyone and doing his due diligence on every player who might be available.

Genuine question: With who?

Marner's a regular season specialist, and he definitely doesn't feel like the kind of guy who'd buck the trend of having his production falling off, once he gets to NSH and has a fat new contract. Yes, he would make NSH a better team, but so would any of those UFAs I mentioned. Presumably they'd all sign for less than Marner, on their next contract (a guy who was making $4.5-6.5M is going to be a lot more enthusiastic about $8-10M, than a guy who was already making $11M).

Is Marner a bit younger and better than any of those guys? Sure (at least for the first 82 games in the season). Does that talent gap bridge the difference between whatever assets it would cost acquire him, plus the extra cap space he'd use up? I don't feel it does. And that's just comparing Marner to other wingers that could be available. When you compare him to where that acquisition cost and cap space could go instead (ie. C or RD), he's not a wise investment.

It depends on where Marner wants to go. Probably a couple of Western teams.

Truth be told I hope Trotzy can work a miracle and get Stammer on an O'Reilly type deal, and maybe a Brandon Montour at less than 7 mil, then call it a good free agency and focus on drafting some high upside guys or trading into the top 12 with a couple of the 2nd rounders we have this year to catch whoever might fall this year, a la Zach Benson last year.

What western teams?

LA doesn't need another top 6 winger
Anaheim isn't in a position to try and get a high impact forward and try competing soon
Edmonton doesn't need a guy like him
Calgary has Huberdeau they don't need a Marner
Vancouver also has high end forwards and not the cap space to add another
San Jose he won't waive for
Utah probably won't waive for
Dallas doesn't need a winger with his contract
Avs don't need him
Minny doesn't have the cap
Blues don't have a good franchise direction so they're out
Seattle maybe, but I guarantee they won't be offering anything like Shane Wright and who knows if Marner would waive for them either
Vegas can't fit him until Mark Stone goes on LTIR again
Doubt he waives for Winnipeg
Maybe Chicago, but again who would they give up and would they really trade for someone when they can just ball out in free agency

My dream scenario is him staying away from significant UFAs/trades this summer, letting the young guys get into the lineup to gain experience, then throwing all the money at a UFA Draisaitl next summer.

Oh, and drafting Gavin McKenna, with TBL's deferred 1st, in 2026. That'll help too

Utah, could be a team I'd waive for, if I were in his shoes. Being the face of the franchise in a brand new market could be appealing. They have a very good foundation of young players, prospects, and draft picks to build upon. If that team finally has competent ownership and management, they could be a force in just a few years.

The rest of the list I agree with though.

Did I say Western? I meant Eastern teams.

I would do anything for a Gavin McKenna

I debated Utah, but I could see it. I think Marner might stay away just because new management and being unsure of how the franchise goes into the future.

I've got time today, so I'll play your game.

Let's just cross off the Atlantic division, because none of the Leafs rivals are going to pay an in-division trade price for Marner
Doubt he waives for Columbus
Doubt he waives for the Flyers
Doubt he waives for the Isles
Rangers don't need more wingers
Devils don't need another high end forward
Doubt he waives for the Penguins
Doubt he waives for the Capitals
Maybe the Hurricanes but they have to pay Necas and Jarvis and Marner is the exact opposite of what they need because they need guys who perform in the playoffs

Every team will do their due diligence and try to make a Marner trade work you don’t get these type of players available. Stop with the narrative teams won’t make this work when every team that has a chance at attaining Marner will make it work. There will be loads of teams gunning for Marner if he is available. East or west.