The Rangers and Maple Leafs should respect Jacob Trouba's and Mitch Marner's contractual clauses and not force them into a trade, says Adam Proteau.
The Leafs experienced serious defensive deficiencies this past season and are looking to shore up the blueline, of which Jacob Trouba could be a huge help. With John Klingberg on LTIR, the Maple Leafs have to reshape the blueline, in a physical, dominating presence which it lacked in 2023-2024.
Trouba would also save the team $2.8 Million on the salary cap, compared to Marner's $10.9 Million AAV deal.
Alexis Lafreniere, a 1st round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft hasn't exactly lived up to the hype in New York. This trade could offer him a fresh start in Toronto, and with a $2.3 Million AAV cap hit, could end up saving Brad Treliving $500K in cap space.
Alexis Lafrenière, the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, has shown potential but hasn't yet fully established himself as a top-tier player. A move to Toronto, with its high-powered offense and young core, could help Lafrenière reach his potential. His $2.3 million cap hit also provides significant cap flexibility for the Leafs.
Since the 1st week of free agency has come to a close, will bigger trades such as this one materialize?
Will the Rangers score a 95-point winger in Marner?