Leafs' Marleau to be traded back to San Jose?!

It would be a heartbreaking move for Toronto...

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Leafs' Marleau to be traded back to San Jose?!
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No one can deny the wonderful chemistry established in Toronto since veteran forward Patrick Marleau has taken over and mentored young players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. However, when money leads all things and trump camaraderie and chemistry in a dressing room, it sure seems like the Maple Leafs will need to make difficult choices this summer, and according to Sportnet's Luke Fox, who put together a list of nine bold predictions for 2019, it sounds like it could be the end of Marleau in Toronto. 

Taking into account the projected new figure of $83 million for the cap space, as per Cap Friendly, the Maple Leafs’ projected cap space for next season is just over $26.7 million, which you all know is expected to be a major problem in Toronto... Matthews and Marner are essentially guaranteed new deals in the summer, and many believe that they will combine for somewhere between $18 and $20 million per season. However, there are not the only players to consider in the re-signing process and that's also without considering any potential trade that might be coming to Toronto to, for example, boost the back end and become serious Cup contenders... 

Fox believes that to make room for all of the upcoming hefty contracts in tow, the Maple Leafs will convince Marleau to be shipped back to San Jose. 

"It goes like this: The Leafs pay Marleau his $3-million signing bonus on July 1, then move Marleau to San Jose, which only has to pay the living legend $1.25 million in base salary," writes Fox. 

The Maple Leafs could benefit form shedding Marleau's salary before the start of the offseason. He has one more year after this at $6.5M and that might make next year’s cap situation a little difficult for GM Kyle Dubas.

It would be hard to see the Sharks, with whom Marleau spent most of his legendary career, refuse the transaction. 

"So, at little real-money cost to the Sharks, they welcome back Marleau and eat the bulk of his cap. Marleau can retire in teal, Hall of Famer Joe Thornton can finally rest what’s left of his knees, and Wilson can obtain a useful bottom-six forward for the price of a late-round pick or long-shot prospect."

TSN insider Pierre LeBrun recently explained how close the young players in Toronto have grown to Marleau and how difficult of a move it would be for Dubas to pull the trigger on such a trade. 

"For all those who think the Leafs need to shed Marleau’s contract this summer because of Toronto’s precarious cap situation, another reminder of how much the veteran has bonded with the young stars of that team. A player’s value isn’t just on the ice," posted LeBrun as he retweeted the picture of Marleau, Matthews and his sons around a Christmas tree. 

In his first season with the Maple Leafs, Marleau tallied 27 goals and 47 points in 82 games. This season, he has 19 points through his first 35 games and just recently tied for 30th on the all-time NHL goal-scoring list. The man still holds value on the market, that's for sure! 

Source: Sportsnet