Former NHLer and current NHL Network analyst Stu Grimson revealed the expected return for the Toronto Maple Leafs if they were to trade Mitch Marner.
At this point, many across the NHL, fans included, expect Leafs forward Mitch Marner to play out the final year of his six-year deal rather than sign an extension or approve a trade. However, should the Leafs trade the 27-year-old, current NHL Network analyst and former NHLer Stu Grimson believes that the Leafs will be looking for one specific type of player in return.
“This group needs a little more sandpaper. They need more grit where their top-six is concerned. You look at that list of candidates in their top-six and I go back to the Florida series. The trouble that club had with Tkachuk and Bennett. Both players who factor in the top six for the Florida Panthers. I know the Leafs covet that kind of gritty presence as part of your top six, who can also generate top-end offensive numbers…
It’ll be a haul. I got to believe there’ll be a solid, established impact NHL player as part of the mix and perhaps a mix of picks and prospects… But it should be a rich return without question.”
The Leafs added Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi to address the need for more sandpaper and ‘snot’ in their top-six last summer, and with the departure of Bertuzzi to Chicago, there is an opening for Brad Treliving and the Leafs to add more up front. Unfortunately, there are not many, if any of those types of forwards currently available.
Even if a team has that type of player, they are difficult to come by and teams often refuse to relinquish those players, unless a trade request comes in, like in the Tkachuk deal.
If the Leafs have made the internal decision not to offer him Marner extension, it would be best if they can convince him to waive his no-movement clause and accept a trade, but as of now, Marner is set to return to the Leafs for the upcoming season.
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