Trade Rumors: Predators Favorites To Land Mitch Marner?

Trade Rumors: Predators Favorites To Land Mitch Marner?

The days of the Core 4 appear to be numbered. The Maple Leafs have already canned Sheldon Keefe. If you watched the Brendan Shanahan press conference the other day, you know changes are coming. If Toronto does decide to pick Mitch Marner as the member of the Core 4 to move on from, there is a tax-free destination eager to get their hands on him.

Should the Predators be viewed as favorites to land Marner? David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period certainly sees them as a strong possibility. Even so much so that he proposed a Juuse Saros for Marner swap.

"I believe Nashville – at some point – has been one of the teams that have said, 'if you consider moving him, give us a call.'"

– @TheFourthPeriod on Mitch Marner @thegoldenmuzzy | @Jay_D_Rosehill

Presented by @WendysCanada pic.twitter.com/CkzFhq8MH5

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) May 15, 2024

I’ll add my own personal spin here. I’m not sure why the Leafs would even entertain a Marner for Saros swap. Mostly because Joseph Woll deserves a chance to be the starter. Why bring in Saros to then be forced to give him a major pay day? Woll is on the roster for cheap and is already really good. If you’re going to move Marner, shouldn’t it be for a top end D?

Marner will carry a cap hit of $10.9 million in the final year of his deal. He also has a full no-move clause. However, you would imagine that he would approve a trade to Nashville considering the tax implications of playing in a tax-free state. Nashville would be a good place to maximize your earning power. Whoever acquires Marner will likely work on extending him quickly as part of the trade.

Avalanche sink Ducks

Let’s hear from you on this one. Would the Predators be a good fit for Marner? He certainly would give them a much needed playmaker on the wing. Does Marner fit Trotz’s vision for rebuilding Nashville? I guess we’re about to find out.

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