The Toronto Maple Leafs have already begun their off-season changes as media speculation continues on whether Mitch Marner is better off on another team. Mitch Marner [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2MzIwODI5NjMyMzU4MDk0/usatsi_23174283_168400847_lowres.jpg] Mitch Marner The Toronto Maple Leafs face plenty of questions [https://thehockeynews.com/news/a-summer-of-big-changes-could-be-in-store-for-the-toronto-maple-leafs] entering an off-season following another early playoff exit. With the team firing coach Sheldon Keefe on Thursday, Mitch Marner's future with the club is perhaps the biggest. Marner has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $10.9 million. The 27-year-old right winger will become a UFA next July unless he and the Leafs agree to a contract extension. He's stated his willingness [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/its-all-the-same-s-ty-pain-mitch-marner-wants-to-remain-with-maple-leafs-adding-loss-to-bruins-is-only-going-to-make-us-better] to remain a Leaf while his teammates supported him against criticism of his play during their first-round series against the Boston Bruins. However, Marner's underwhelming performance against the Bruins still has some observers believing he'll become a trade candidate this summer. The Hockey News' Michael DeRosa cited [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/analyst-proposes-lightning-maple-leafs-blockbuster-trade] the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran suggesting Marner might be better off in one of the Sunshine states where he can be the best player while enjoying anonymity. He proposed offering the winger up to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. He also mentioned the Utah franchise as another destination. Don't hold your breath on that Lightning swap. Their efforts to re-sign captain Steven Stamkos are complicated by their limited cap space [https://puckpedia.com/team/tampa-bay-lightning]. They won't deplete their defense corps by trading away Sergachev, who's signed through 2030-31 and has a no-trade clause kicking in on July 1. Utah can easily afford Marner's salary and possesses plenty of trade capital in draft picks and prospects to tempt the Leafs. However, they might not be on his list of preferred trade destinations. If Marner is willing to waive his no-movement clause, the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan suggested [https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/thoughts-on-the-futures-of-leafs] testing the trade market to see if he'll fetch a No. 1 defenseman. Failing that, they can use the money they would've invested in re-signing him by pursuing a top blueliner via next summer's trade or free-agent markets. Koshan's colleague Steve Simmons doubted [https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/leafs-never-on-verge-of-winning-anything-in-shanahan-years] Marner and Leafs captain John Tavares would agree to waive their NMCs. He also thinks Marner's trade value will be limited compared to his worth because he only has a year left on his contract. That hasn't stopped some observers from proposing trade destinations and scenarios. THN's Adam Proteau suggested [https://thehockeynews.com/news/five-nhl-teams-torontos-mitch-marner-should-consider-joining-if-he-waives-no-move-clause] the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks and Utah as new homes for Marner. Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon pitched [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/four-mitch-marner-trades-the-maple-leafs-could-consider/] the Columbus Blue Jackets for Kent Johnson and a first-rounder, the Seattle Kraken for Shane Wright and Adam Larsson, the Philadelphia Flyers in a three-team trade involving the San Jose Sharks, and a multi-player blockbuster with the Calgary Flames bringing goalie Jacob Markstrom and defenseman Rasmus Andersson to Toronto. Philly Hockey Now's Jonathan Bailey believes the Flyers should steer clear [https://phillyhockeynow.com/2024/05/05/philadelphia-flyers-avoid-mitchell-marner-maple-leafs-trade/] of Marner given his reputation as an inconsistent playoff performer. It remains to be seen if pundits in those other cities feel the same.
