The Toronto Maple Leafs have a clear need for a top-six winger after Mitch Marner went to the Vegas Golden Knights this offseason.
Heavy.com proposed a deal that would see the Maple Leafs acquire Jonathan Marchessault from the Nashville Predators in a blockbuster deal.
Maple Leafs acquire:
Predators acquire:
- Nick Robertson
- Calle Jarnkrok
- 2027 second-round pick
The proposed deal would be an intriguing one as Toronto would get a top-line scoring winger for two NHL players and a second-round pick. By trading a second-round pick, the Maple Leafs wouldn’t have a first or second-round pick in the next two drafts.
The Maple Leafs would acquire Marchessault, who can help replace the void of Marner. He has four years left on his five-year, $27.5 million deal, and $5.5 million a year is more than fair for him. Marchessault could play on the first or second line and add some more offense to the lineup. He recorded 21 goals and 35 assists for 56 points in 78 games. It was a down year, but he is a playoff performer as he won the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP when the Golden Knights won the Cup in 2023.
Nashville would get back Robertson, who’s a young forward who hasn’t been given much of a role with the Maple Leafs. He’s a pending RFA and could be a middle-six forward for Nashville. He recorded 15 goals and 7 assists for 22 points in 69 games last season.
The Maple Leafs would also trade Jarnkrok, who would be a middle-six forward in Nashville. His name has come up in trade rumors as Toronto is looking to move him. He has one year left on his four-year, $8.4 million deal.
Maple Leafs Looking to Add a Top-Six Winger
Marchessault would be a top-six forward for the Maple Leafs who can score, which is a need for the team.
Toronto did acquire Mattias Maccelli, but they truly haven’t replaced Marner, which is a need, according to Maple Leafs’ GM Brad Treliving.
“When a player of Mitch’s magnitude moves away, that’s never a fun day,” Treliving said on July 1... “Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole. That’s really where our focus is.”
Toronto has cap space and some assets to make a trade happen, and Marchessault would be a wise choice.
He has proven he can perform in the playoffs, while the Predators may look to move Marchessault, just one year after he signed there, as he didn’t have the best season.
Predators GM Doesn’t Plan to Trade Marchessault
Despite Marchessault’s name coming up in trade rumors, Predators’ general manager Barry Trotz has no desire to move him.
Trotz says he’s focused on making Nashville a playoff team after the disappointment of last season.
“There’s no truth to any of that (trade speculation),” Trotz said. “If (Marchessault) is going to look for something, he (would be) calling his agent and he (would be) calling me. So there’s nothing to that. I was just checking in with [Brisson] because people are going What’s happening (with Marchessault)? There’s nothing happening. I didn’t know if anything was happening, so I just double-checked with him that maybe I missed something. I didn’t miss anything.”
The Predators finished the season with a record of 30-44-8 which was the third-worst in the NHL.
Trade Pitch Sees Maple Leafs Acquiring $27.5M Winger to Replace Marner