Toronto Maple Leafs Avoid Disastrous Blockbuster Trade Proposal Involving Mitch Marner Reported by Insider
A year ago the Toronto Maple Leafs nearly made a critical error and were in talks of trading Mitch Marner away in order to address their goaltending -- it's a really good thing they didn't.
Around May of 2024, there was some rumblings regarding a potential Mitch Marner trade. The Fourth Period wrote at the time that they potentially believed the Maple Leafs would trade their superstar for goaltending help; specifically Nashville's Juuse Saros.
But clearly a trade never materialized and the Maple Leafs currently deal with a different concern regarding Marner. So let's take a look at how Toronto avoided a catastrophic trade.
Mitch Marner For Jusse Saros: One Year Later
At the time, the Maple Leafs were in a rut when it came to their goaltending. Sure, they had Joseph Woll but he was still unproven, and Ilya Samsonov headed out in free agency.
So with Toronto desperate to solidify their goaltending, there was talks of trading for Juuse Saros -- who at the time had posted a 35-24-5 record with a 2.86 GAA and .906 SV% and looked primed to be one of the NHL's elite.
Fast forward to 2024-25 and Saros is a shell of his former self. Nashville has been bad this season -- and so has Saros. He has a 11-23-6 record with a 2.95 GAA and .898 SV%; a stark contrast.
Looking at Marner this season, it's a wonder where the Maple Leafs would be if he had been traded.
In 55 games this season, Marner has 16 goals and 55 assists for 71 points and has unquestionably been the team's MVP. He's in line for a huge payday and if Toronto doesn't re-sign him -- someone is going to pay handsomely, especially if he finds playoff success.
Toronto instead decided to hedge their bets on a growing Woll as well as premier backup Anthony Stolarz -- who is looking more and more like the best free agent goalie signing in a long time for the Leafs.
Looking back, it's easy to see why Toronto may be willing to trade Marner for goaltending help. Saros would have been cheaper, and Nashville could worry about Marner's free agency.
But you gotta think the Maple Leafs would be worse off if Marner wasn't a part of the team.
