NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun Hints at Potential Mitch Marner Trade for Elite Goaltender

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Chris Gerics
September 27, 2024 (8:00 PM)

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NHL Insider Pierre Lebrun stirred the pot Friday when he suggested the Maple Leafs make a bold move exchanging Mitch Marner for New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin.

The speculation ran rampant this summer regarding whether or not the Maple Leafs would trade Mitch Marner but so far, there has been nothing to that. Fans were speculating whether or not to keep the Core Four together or to get rid of Marner in order to bring in the pieces needed to win a Stanley Cup. He garnered a lot of heat this summer for his seemingly nonchalant attitude, but Marner is determined to remain a Maple Leaf and his love for the city and its fans is undeniable. But could he be destined for the bright lights of the Big Apple?

NHL Insider Pierre Lebrun seems to think so. While speaking on TSN's Overdrive program, Lebrun talked about how Mitch Marner could be used as a bargaining chip for the Maple Leafs to acquire one of the elite goaltenders in the league; Igor Shesterkin. Lebrun posed a question to the panel of Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan about what Toronto should do about the Mitch Marner situation come July 1st:

«I'll put this to you three before we wrap up and you have to give me your true answer on this. Let's make this about the Leafs,» LeBrun said on �TSN's OverDrive'. «If the Leafs get bounced out in the first round and Marner hasn't signed yet, and Shesterkin hasn't signed yet, and it's July 1, and you are the Leafs and you got a shot at either one, what do you do?»

It's an interesting take on the situation, and one that both Hayes and O'Neill agreed with. The fact the Maple Leafs have been so unsuccessful in the playoffs despite the amount of talent they have is disappointing to say the least and something may need to drastically change. If Joseph Woll is unable to shoulder to load and Anthony Stolarz can't steer the ship if it goes off course; who else is there?

The Maple Leafs have Matt Murray, but as reliable as he's been there is no guarantees in the NHL and Murray is working on borrowed time, regardless of if he feels up to the task. Acquiring someone like Shesterkin, who has emerged as an elite goaltender and been a thorn in Toronto's side in recent times, holding a 5-2-2 record with a 2.64 GAA and .918 save percentage; he's also an absurd 33-12-6 with a 2.22 GAA and .928 save percentage against the Atlantic Division for his career, something that Toronto could use to their advantage trying to get out of the first and second rounds.

Marner is coming off another fantastic year for the Maple Leafs, where he had 26 goals and 59 assists but with him looking to make a salary north of $12M this free agency; the money could be spent elsewhere. Shesterkin is in the last year of the 4-year deal he signed in 2021 with the Rangers and has to be due a pay raise; but it won't be anywhere near what Marner is expecting. Even if Shesterkin is looking to get paid and become the highest paid goaltender in the NHL, Marner is still going to have him beat; plus the Maple Leafs have so much talent they can afford to swap offense for stability.

If the Maple Leafs are serious about changing the direction they are heading in, and are hopefully getting tired of spinning in circles to take a step outside of the box and exchange one of their top offensive stars for a top goaltender. It's a decision that could end up making or breaking the Maple Leafs success.