There are only a couple of options, to turn this season around. Trading a core player or firing the coach. Dubas is reluctant to fire the coach, because it's the one move that will buy a GM more time. I believe that Sheldon Keefe is ready to be an NHL coach. He also knows many of the current Leaf players that he'd developed with the Marlies. However, if Keefe can't make the Leafs win, Dubas is toast.
The other move, trading a core player is tricky. Two players come to mind, William Nylander and Mitch Marner. Both wingers, both with overpriced contracts. The Leafs could part with Nylander, but his ticket will yield a middling talent and not really fill a major hole on the roster.
Mitch Marner would garner allot of interest from the right team. A team like Montreal would give a large ransom for a name player with high potential. The asking price should be a player like Max Domi and a first, or Max Domi and a top four defender. Of course, the potential of moving a player like Marner and see him transform into another superstar player for the next 10 years on a divisional opponent would be unpalatable. Dubas has painted himself into a corner, thanks to his incompetent negotiations with his RFA's. Something needs to change or this team will be looking at missing the playoffs with allot of great talent and no will to win.
- PrinceLH
Marner for Domi and a 1st....not a chance
