With the free agent market nearly empty two weeks into July, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers are scrambling to address crucial roster needs for the 2024-25 season. The Rangers need a top-line right winger for Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, while the Maple Leafs are desperate for defense depth despite having a surplus of forwards.
In a twist of fate, both teams could solve their problems by swapping players who fit each other’s needs: Mitch Marner from the Leafs and Jacob Trouba from the Rangers. A proposed trade suggests that New York could secure the top-line forward they crave, while Toronto could strengthen their defense.
Trade Breakdown:
– Rangers get: Mitch Marner
– Maple Leafs get: Jacob Trouba
For this blockbuster deal to happen, both players would need to greenlight the transaction. Marner has a full no-move clause, and Trouba’s contract includes a 15-team no-trade list, which currently blocks Toronto.
Financially, this trade makes perfect sense. PuckPedia confirms that a one-for-one trade would be viable, with the Leafs gaining $3.8 million in cap space and the Rangers being able to absorb Marner’s salary with their pre-trade cap space of $5.1 million.
Rangers Fumble Trouba Trade Talks – Detroit Left Out in the Cold
The Rangers’ trade negotiations have hit a major snag. They asked Trouba for his 15-team no-trade list ahead of free agency, as reported by Arthur Staple of The Athletic. During draft weekend, a trade with the Detroit Red Wings was reportedly in the works but was blocked by Trouba, who had Detroit on his no-trade list.
Trouba, who scored 3 goals and 19 assists in 69 regular-season games in 2024, has two years left on his seven-year, $56 million contract. Staple and Peter Baugh identified the Maple Leafs as a top trade fit, highlighting the Leafs’ need for a big, right-shot defenseman.
Mitch Marner’s Days in Toronto Numbered?
Amid swirling rumors, Marner is entering the final season of his six-year, $65.4 million contract with Toronto. Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun suggests that a Marner trade could happen by mid-July. However, Marner has publicly expressed his desire to stay in Toronto, stating, “I’ve expressed my love for this place, this city. Obviously, I’ve grown up here. We’ll start thinking about that now and trying to figure something out… It means the world to me.”
Leafs GM Brad Treliving urged caution regarding Marner trade rumors, emphasizing the team’s commitment to exploring every option to improve.
Stay tuned as this high-stakes drama unfolds – will the Rangers and Leafs pull off a trade that could reshape their futures?