Leafs talking to a new team regarding Patrick Marleau.

There is no longer any doubt in anyone's mind that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be parting ways with veteran forward Patrick Marleau at some point during the course of this upcoming offseason. Any doubts were erased on Saturday night when Sportsnet's National Hockey League insider Nick Kypreos revealed that the Marleau family was already headed back to California and that furthermore Patrick Marleau himself had a desire to remain close to his family. 

"Yeah it sounds like Marleau and the Leafs are set to part ways," said Kypreos during Saturday's Headlines segment. "The family is going to move back to San Jose and Patrick Marleau has made it clear to the Toronto Maple Leafs that he would like to get closer to his family once again which means moving to the West Coast area."

There have been rampant rumors linking Marleau to the Los Angeles Kings, however those reports have been refuted by some very good reporters. Los Angeles Kings insider Helene Elliott was able to corroborate the fact that there had indeed been discussions between the Maple Leafs and the Kigns, but she also shut down the rumors of a potential trade when she revealed that there was no deal to be made.

"For what it's worth, regarding the Marleau-to-the-Kings rumor, my understanding is he is not being traded to the Kings," wrote Elliotte. "Any discussions quickly made it obvious that the teams' respective needs/cap situations meant there wasn't a workable deal to be made."

In spite of that Kypreos listed 3 teams as being potentially involved in the Marleau trade discussions on Sunday night, and the Los Angeles Kings remained in the mix as per his sources.

"Some of the teams that are in the mix I am told are Arizona, Colorado and the Los Angeles Kings," said Kypreos.

Well now we have a second National Hockey League insider potentially linking Patrick Marleau in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes, however it sounds like going this route could cost Kyle Dubas and the Toronto Maple Leafs. According to a report from TSN NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the Leafs have indeed held talks with the Arizona Coyotes and those talks have centered around a trade that would involve Patrick Marleau. However according to Pierre LeBrun the Maple Leafs may have to give up an additional asset/

"Leafs and Coyotes have also chatted about Patrick Marleau," said LeBrun. "My sense is that for Arizona to get more interested Toronto would have to attach a premium asset in the trade as well."

The idea of giving up a "premium" level asset to unload what is effectively a 1 year deal might not sit well with fans, but if LeBrun is correct that may be the price of doing business. The Arizona Coyotes have orchestrated a similar trade in the past when they acquired the rights to Pavel Datsyuk from the Detroit Red Wings, knowing full well that he would never play for them, in order to move up in the NHL draft. Although Marleau is still an active player I would not be surprised if they were seeking a similar return in order to take on Marleau's contract.