After another disappointing first-round playoff exit, the Toronto Maple Leafs are left with more questions than answers about the future of this incredibly talented roster. With Auston Matthews and William Nylander locked in long-term, it makes sense for the team to make a move to get better, and by all accounts, Mitch Marner is the player most likely to be moved in a deal.
The speculation has been running rampant about a potential trade-list for Marner, potential trade partners and more, but now, it appears we may know when the best time to make a deal is.
According to insider Frank Seravalli, June is the perfect time to make a deal, as Marner becomes extension eligible starting in July, and moving him now would allow his new team time to figure out a deal.
On top of that, the 2024 NHL Draft takes place in Vegas at the end of the month, so if Toronto can make something happen before then, they will have control over potential draft picks that come out of a Marner trade.
Furthermore, free agency begins in July, and teams looking to acquire Marner will need the cap space to make it happen, so whether or not a deal gets done, it's in the best interest of Toronto and an acquiring team to get to work on a deal and make it happen over the next four weeks.
