Maple Leafs, Kings have discussed potential Marleau trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings have reportedly talked about a trade that would include 39-year-old Patrick Marleau.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had discussions with the Los Angeles Kings on a trade centring around veteran winger Patrick Marleau, according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.

LeBrun added that the teams haven’t found a fit and a trade isn’t imminent.

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The Leafs and Kings did a big piece of business this year ahead of the trade deadline. Toronto received Jake Muzzin in exchange for prospects Carl Grundstrom and Sean Durzi as well as a 2019 first-round pick.

It’s no secret that the Maple Leafs are currently in a bit of a cap squeeze with their top stars getting new deals. Mitch Marner has still yet to sign a contract, but he’s projected to receive a deal within the range of $9-11 million. Getting some bigger contracts off the team would definitely help the team lock up one of its biggest stars.

With that being said, I know where most of your minds just went after reading that last sentence. Stick with me.

The team will be moving on from Nikita Zaitsev after the defender asked for a trade due to “personal reasons” on Thursday. That will alleviate at least a portion of the $4.5 million that they were paying him annually.

Marleau was lured away from San Jose by the Maple Leafs in the summer of 2017. He signed a three-year, $18.75-million contract on July 2 that carried a $6.25 AAV.

If those two individuals could be moved, the Buds would be able to clear nearly $10 million in cap space. However, the Kings would likely have to send some salary back to Toronto in order to get a deal done.

Some have suggested that one of Ilya Kovalchuk ($6.25 AAV) or former Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf ($5.25 AAV) could be part of the return.

Alec Martinez and Tyler Toffoli are two other options that could be moved depending on the return.

All this talk of a Marleau trade could be put to bed by the man himself. The 39-year-old has a no-movement clause in his contract. This could very well be the veteran’s final season in the NHL, and with the Leafs making the playoffs on a regular basis, why would he want to waive his NMC?

For one, the Kings are now coached by Todd McLellan, who was the bench boss in San Jose for seven seasons while Marleau was with the Sharks.

Other than their new coach, however, there’s a lot of question marks. The team has the fifth overall pick in the 2019 Draft, but Sporting News’ Steve Kournianos ranked the Kings’ system 24th in the league. Additionally, they came into the season tied with the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights for the oldest roster in the league, averaging at 28.7 years old.

Marleau currently serves as a great locker room presence for the Maple Leafs, but following a solid first campaign in Toronto, his production took a dip this season. He finished with 16 goals and 37 points in 82 games. In the first round against Boston, he only had two points and was used in big minutes by Mike Babcock despite his lack of offensive success.

We haven’t even reached July 1 yet and Kyle Dubas and the Maple Leafs’ management has made it clear that they are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure this team is in the best position to win next year.

There’s always a chance that Marleau stays put – that’s obviously his right due to the NMC. But he could also decide to head back to California to finish out his career. Only time will tell.

Who would you like to see come back in exchange for Marleau? What does it take to get a deal done? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!