Maple Leafs Untouchable List Sees Top 3 Trade Table Names – Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman discussed the press conference held by Toronto Maple Leafs management and media on Friday and discussed their takeaways. Friedman suggested it's clear that MLSE CEO Keith Pelley is in charge, but he's leaving GM Brad Treliving and President Brendan Shanahan in charge of making changes on the ice. Again, there will be changes. Both of them said that this is no longer a time for patience, and although there is no direct statement that the “Core Four” is changing, there was not much love that the team of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares had been accomplished. They were all given years to push the needle. They could not do so.

Marek and Friedman then turned to the idea of ​​untouchables on the list and who, if anyone, is safe. Both agreed that Matthews was the only player who was illegal. Marek didn't see Nylander as someone the team would sign, but Friedman suggested that if the offer was there and solid for an NHL team, the Maple Leafs had to consider it.

With only one, maybe two players on the Leafs' untouched list, that leaves Marner, Tavares, and defenseman Morgan Rielly on the table in offseason trade talks.

Tavares, Marner, and Rielly Discussed in Trade Talks?

Nick Kypreos reported that teams have already reached out to the Maple Leafs about Marner. He has a no-movement clause and full trade-stopping power, but other clubs are interested, even if his contract goes up to $100 million. He is clearly a talented player who can score 100 points. Those types of forwards are not found in the commercial market every day. If you can get one in a trade, it makes sense to hear that teams are curious about the asking price.

Tavares may be a tough sell. He certainly doesn't want to leave, but the Leafs could move him if he agrees, if he chooses to keep the salary in the final year of his contract. If Tavares is told the Leafs are moving on, there may be a matter of pride involved and Tavares' desire to prove the organization wrong.

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Rielly becomes an interesting player here. He is arguably the only top quality defender on the team. If Toronto is open to moving him, it could mean the team is looking to completely rebuild their blue line. TJ Brodie is a pending UFA as are Ilya Lyubushkin, Joel Edmundson, and Mark Giordano. Jake McCabe has one year left, Timothy Liljegren is a pending RFA, and the Leafs can't quite build around Conor Timmins and Simon Benoit.

What Kind of Trading Will the Maple Leafs Be Facing?

If the idea is to trade one, maybe two of their four mainstays, and the Leafs are open to moving Rielly (who also has a no-movement clause), it seems reasonable to assume that the focus is on defense and scoring. While Treliving and Shanahan both talked about the lack of scoring in the playoffs being a big issue, Ilya Samsonov may not be back and Treliving expressed ongoing injury concerns related to Joseph Woll.

If Toronto can move Marner, the thinking here is that they will target a team willing to trade for a defenseman and a goaltender. Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon's suggestion involves the Leafs making a big deal with the Calgary Flames. Toronto will get Jacob Markstrom and Rasmus Andersson. There are no confirmed reports that the two teams have had discussions about such a trade, but Markstrom is open to moving on from the Flames and Andersson is the type of blueliner Toronto would like and has a history with Treliving.

If Rielly is removed, Toronto could be looking for a different type of defenseman and the ability to replace some of the goals left if Marner goes elsewhere. Treliving talked about the need for playoff-style scoring and Shanahan said there's a big difference between production in the regular season versus the postseason. The Leafs may be looking for proven playoff producers.