According to NHL source and reporter James Mirtle of The Athletic, the Toronto Maple Leafs may trade Mitch Marner in exchange for Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.
Marner is at the top of many trade rumours heading into the offseason, as he approaches the final year of his six-year, $65.4 million contract with the Maple Leafs, signed in 2019. Since Toronto was eliminated from the playoffs, Marner has been the subject of trade rumours, and Mirtle feels Tampa Bay is a dark horse team to land him, potentially trading Sergachev for him.
“Perhaps something with the Lightning, who appear to be movers and shakers here. It would be Sergachev,” Mirtle remarked on Sportsnet’s JD Bunkis show on June 26.
Sergachev has seven years remaining on the eight-year, $68 million contract he signed on July 13, 2022. The Russians also do not have any trade protection until July 1, so if Tampa Bay does go ahead with this faux agreement, it must be completed before July 1 without Sergachev’s approval.
Sergachev played 34 games for the Lightning last season, scoring two goals and 17 assists for a total of 19 points. Sergachev broke his leg last season, but was a major player of the 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup winning teams prior to the injury.
Insider Explains Why the Leafs of Toronto Should Make That Trade.
After Mirtle shared the mock deal, he stated that if it is on the table, Toronto should make it.
The transaction would free up more than $2 million in cap space and provide Toronto with a real No. 1 defenseman in Sergachev, who has seven years remaining on his contract.
“You gain a little bit of cap space, you get a defenseman, and you hope Sergachev recovers; he didn’t have a terrific year but played hurt for much of the season. I believe the Lightning are considering it; presumably, they will lose Stamkos, and they want to see if they can return that team to contention, not just in the second tier,” Mirtle remarked.
Tampa Bay would benefit from signing Marner as a dynamic offensive playmaker to their squad. Sergachev’s role has also lessened as a result of the team’s acquisition of Ryan McDonagh while still having Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak.
Marner Wants to Stay With the Maple Leafs
Although Marner has been the subject of trade rumours, he has a full no-movement clause that allows him to reject any trade.
After the Maple Leafs were ousted from the playoffs, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Marner wants to stay in Toronto.
“At this time, the Marner camp, lead by veteran agent Darren Ferris, is not working on a roster of teams. They have no intention of releasing such a list right now. As far as the Marner camp is concerned, the talented winger has one year left on his contract with the Leafs and expects to honour it,” LeBrun said.
“So, as far as I can tell right now, this is all on what the Leafs bring to Marner this summer (if anything)—not the other way around. Marner has the upper hand thanks to his 100 percent no-move clause, which entered into effect on July 1,” LeBrun stated.
Marner scored 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points in 69 games last season.
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