One suitor gets perfect plan in place to pry Marner away from Leafs

This GM knows how to pull off blockbuster trades! Watch out!

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Published 5 years ago
One suitor gets perfect plan in place to pry Marner away from Leafs
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The book on William Nylander is finally closed in Toronto, but that does not mean Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is entering a smooth period when it comes to securing his roster for next season. Auston Matthews' camp is said to be negotiating on a contract extension, however, we all know the financial puzzle is putting a lot of pressure on Dubas. He can’t afford to let his two star players be available in free agency on July 1, even if that free agency is restricted. The cap is set to rise to $83 million next year, however, the cap crunch remains for Dubas who wants to get this done as soon as possible. 

He isn't the only GM aware of this fact and you have to believe rival general managers will do what they can to get one of the two star players out of Toronto. Paul Gackle of The Mercury News believes that San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson could come up with the perfect plan to pry out Marner from the Maple Leafs, especially if Erik Karlsson decides not to re-sign with his club. 

Wilson could exploit the situation in which Dubas is finding himself, facing a potential cap crunch next summer with the new deals of both Marner and Matthews. Marner could bring a valuable injection of youth, speed, and playmaking skills to the Sharks’ forward lines and Wilson has more options than anybody else in the league. 

If Wilson were to go the offer-sheet route, Gackle makes it clear a precise plan of actions needs to be put in place. He would need to be extremely creative to make all the pieces fit. 

"First, the Sharks would need to swing deals with both Buffalo and Ottawa to regain the first-round picks they surrendered in the trades for Karlsson and Evander Kane. Then, they’d need to give up two first-rounders, because they’d likely be making an offer to Marner north of $12-million per year. The Leafs would need to match that offer, or lose Marner," explains Gackle in his article. 

Gackle knows how difficult it would be to pitch an offer sheet for Marner... That's what he suggests a more likely scenario of a trade before July 1 if the Leafs feel they cannot afford Marner and Matthews, allowing Wilson to swoop in as he did with Karlsson and Kane. Timing is everything... At the moment, no signs have been shown that the Leafs are entertaining offers for Marner. However if Dubas considers re-signing Matthews and moving Marner, Wilson will be first in line to grab him for the Sharks. 

The cost of acquiring Marner in terms of return and salary would be expensive, however, Gackle is certain about one thing: it would be incredibly worth it for Wilson and the Sharks.