Several teams have already shown a Trade Interest in Marner [Report]

The big news out of Toronto is that the Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Sheldon Keefe on Thursday. The next big event will be Friday's presser, then the name of a new coach or an explanation of what the team is looking for in a head coach, then a roster change.

Among the program's biggest changes is the potential trade of outfielder Mitch Marner. Most believe that deal won't be easy to make because Marner has said he'd like to sign long-term and has a no-movement clause, but some insiders believe he might be open to a change if the right situation presents itself.

Related: NHL Rumors: Leafs, Oilers, Corpses

According to one NHL analyst, there are teams that are intrigued by the idea of ​​a trade.

According to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, in an article he wrote in the Toronto Star this week, several teams have already informed the Maple Leafs that they want to talk about a trade, if one becomes available. The tag line of his essay notes, “It is clear that the Core Four concept cannot continue. There are already many NHL teams that have reached out and are showing a lot of interest in Marner.” From there, he explained:

“There have been many NHL teams that have reached out and shown interest in the three-time All-Star who has scored 100 points every season. And that's knowing that his next contract could give him around $100 million.”

source – 'Time for the Leafs to pass on Marner and Tavares. Some NHL teams will (and already are) coming calling' – Nick Kypreos – Toronto Star -05/09/2024 h/t @TheLeafsNation

Who May Be Interested In Marner Trade?

Based on Kypreos' report, any team looking at Marner is willing to spend big to get him. If we're talking about a $100 million contract, over eight seasons, that's $12.5 million per season. Not a ton of teams can fit that into their salary cap, even if the cap goes up.

Teams like Chicago, Anaheim, San Jose, Buffalo, and Nashville sit at the top of the league in terms of teams with current cap space. Which teams, if any, Marner might be interested in signing with long-term is unclear. One thing to keep in mind is that just because teams reach the wire, it doesn't mean they will pursue trades with enthusiasm. They may just be trying to figure out what Toronto's situation is going forward.