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A number of interesting notes coming from David Pagnotta’s piece at The Fourth Period regarding the offseason maneuvers of the Toronto Maple Leafs. As was written about yesterday, there is a general feeling currently that the Leafs will not find team captain John Tavares receptive in waiving his no-movement clause (and it is my assertion that they should not even try), but that winger Mitch Marner might be more receptive to a trade depending on the destination.
Pagnotta believes that a team that could be a good fit for Marner would be the Nashville Predators, who added former Leafs Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Schenn in free agency last summer, made the playoffs surprisingly this season, and has a goaltending glut with former Vezina nominee Juuse Saros and top prospect Yaroslav Askarov. The 29-year-old has been a workhorse, starting 67, 64, and 64 games the last three seasons, but with one year left on his deal, Nashville GM Barry Trotz may be looking to move Saros and go to the young 21-year-old Askarov coming off an excellent AHL season with Milwaukee.
Easton Cowan claims the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award for being named the OHL Playoff MVP.
The last players who won both regular season and playoff MVP in the same season: Mitch Marner & Connor McDavid 😏 pic.twitter.com/6nSmzlnE6l
Both Preds GM Barry Trotz and Saros have indicated a preference to get an extension done, but Nashville is one of many teams looking for offense that could be willing to give up what Toronto is looking for in return for Marner.
He also believes that the Leafs have interest in bringing back both Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi. Those moves might be contingent on Treliving moving off Marner’s $11 million cap hit, but Toronto also has to have the cap space to upgrade their blueline significantly. Domi would seemingly be a good fit to play on the right side with Auston Matthews based on his success playing on the top line and setting up the three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner late last season. Bertuzzi thrived after the All-Star break and finished with 21 goals. Both staying in Toronto would depend on the amount and term they are expecting from the Leafs, since having enough cap space to dip into free agency for the likes of Chris Tanev, Brandon Montour or Brett Pesce has to be considered a top priority, especially if the Leafs are not getting a defenseman in a potential Marner deal.
TSN is mourning the loss of our friend and beloved SportsCentre host Darren Dutchyshen. pic.twitter.com/Mb7m1IzCCY
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