Maple Leafs Rumors: Proposed Trade Lands Mitch Marner In Seattle

Now that the Toronto Maple Leafs brass has laid their cards on the table, stating emphatically at Friday's media conference that "everything" is on the table this offseason in making changes to the roster, the focus turns to what will become of Mitch Marner. Entering the final year of his contract, trade talks will come fast and furious this offseason for one of the Leafs' so-called 'Core Four'.

There are a number of offensively challenged teams around the league that would love to get their hands on the three-time 90-point man who averages 1.11 points per game for his NHL career.

The Seattle Kraken finished with the fourth-worst goals-per-game in the league this past season, at just 2.61. Only the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks were below them. They were similarly near the bottom in team assists. The Kraken would love to get their hands on the playmaking Marner, and Ryan Dixon of Sportsnet has offered up this proposed trade that could get it done:

Seattle Kraken Receive:

Mitch Marner, Forward

Toronto Maple Leafs Receive:

Shane Wright, Center
Adam Larsson, Defence

While the Kraken get the major offensive boost they seek, the Leafs get a top-pairing right-shot defenceman in Larsson, who can log big minutes, and maintain a plus rating. This past season, his offensive numbers took a bit of a dip, down to 18 points, but he was still a +6 for a team that finished overall with a minus-19. Larsson was a +27 the previous season.

The 6'3", 210-pounder blocks shots and bangs bodies, and would be a huge boost to the Toronto blueline. He has one more season left on an affordable $4 million cap hit.

Wright, the 4th overall pick in the 2022 Draft, came up at the tail end of the season for Seattle, and popped four goals in five April games. The 20-year-old had 22 goals and 47 points in 59 games for the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the AHL this season. He still has two years to go on his entry-level contract.

It's a steep price for Seattle to pay, but they get a proven playmaker to inject some serious life into their moribund offence.

There will be plenty more Marner trade ideas as the offseason progresses, but this one seems to make plenty of sense.