2 Teams Who Could Trade For Mitch Marner This Offseason

The Maple Leafs had an ugly collapse in the playoffs this year, turning a 3-1 series lead over Montreal into a loss in game 7. The blame has been placed solely on the team's big stars, who failed to show up when needed. No one was more invisible than Mitch Marner, who managed just 4 assists in 7 playoff games. That might seem like a one-off given Marner's clearly elite-level of play, but it's actually the second straight playoff appearance where he hasn't scored a goal and only managed 4 assists, and three straight playoffs putting up only 4 points. Fans are understandably unimpressed, and it's likely Leaf's management feels the same. While teammate Auston Matthews shut down talk of a trade, there has to be a breaking point for management at some point. If Kyle Dubas wants to move on from Mitch this summer, here are 2 teams that could put together a trade for him.

Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim has been one of the teams in the running to acquire Jack Eichel, but to do so they will need to offer up some quality players, and also be able to surround Eichel with enough talent to make it worth his time to play down in California. It would be hard to do better than Mitch Marner in that regard. Aside from John Gibson, the majority of the Ducks core are young players like Sam Steel, but with much of the team's cap being taken up by veterans like Adam Henrique and Kevin Shattenkirk. If the Ducks can find a way to move on from those contracts, they have the high picks and top prospects to include that could get a deal done with both Toronto and Buffalo. They would be mortgaging their future, but Gibson's window to win is right now, and what a duo Eichel and Marner could be on a top line.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Hawks seem ready to do a full re-tool this summer to try for one more Cup while their dynasty core is still playing. Elliot Freidman has speculated that the Hawks intend to reunite the Jones brothers, but what a splash it would make to bring in Mitch Marner as well. The Hawks have the pieces: a high first-round pick this year, underperforming top prospects like Dylan Strome, breakout-ready rookies like Adam Boqvist, and value contract wingers like Alex DeBrincat. The Hawks have the ability to put a deal together that could actually give the Leafs value right now, rather than just picks for down the road. If Chicago is serious about making a big push this year, a deal for Marner would set the world on fire, and how could Mitch say no to playing alongside a future Hall of Famer like Patrick Kane?

Do you think the Leafs will hold or fold on Mitch Marner?

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