Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 potential trades to consider in off-season

Pulling the trigger on moving Mitch Marner to the Flyers

This is where the Maple Leafs have to take a long look in the mirror and ask if their style of play has any hope of working in future playoff series.  In dealing Mitch Marner, there would be an admission that it does not, and the team needs to move in a different direction.

The Philadelphia Flyers get an extremely talented playmaker in Marner to add to a more defensive-minded forward group.  Still just 23-years-old, Marner comes with a hefty price tag of $10.893 for the next three seasons.  Per Cap Friendly, the Maple Leafs have three more seasons to trade Marner before a no-movement clause kicks in.

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The Flyers would have to do a few financial gymnastics to get under the salary cap, but nothing too major.  For Toronto, they also would free up $4.1 million to address other needs on the team.  Marner has 291 career points in 300 games played.

Ivan Provorov is also 23 years old and comes with a $6.75 million cap hit.  This is not merely about the cap savings, as Provorov is a legitimate number one defenceman for a team that desperately needs one.

For his career, the Russian has 133 points in 315 games, but this is not why the Leafs would be acquiring him.  He is a physical stay-at-home defenceman who is also super durable.  He has played in every single game for the Flyers over the past four seasons.

None of these trades will ultimately turn the team around on their own, but could provide the basis for a start.  A change in identity is what the Toronto Maple Leafs need, and they have the assets to make this happen without having to rebuild.

What moves do you think the Maple Leafs need to make in the off-season?  What direction should the team look to go before the 2020-21 season? Let us know in the comments below.