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Maple Leafs GM doesn't write off Mitch Marner trade with opening day nearing
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has not ruled out the possibility of trading Mitch Marner with about four weeks until the start of training camp and less than two months from opening day. Treliving spoke to Brian Hayes and Jamie McLennan in an episode of TSN’s OverDrive uploaded on Aug. 14 following the naming of Auston Matthews as the Maple Leafs’ captain.
During the conversation, Treliving addressed the fact that the Leafs have not finished making moves before the start of next season. Treliving stated, per The Hockey News:
“To me, we've still got five weeks or so till camp. And, you know, we're not set yet. We continue to look at ways to make our team better," Treliving said.
The words seem to underscore the fact that management feels some areas must still be addressed before the season begins. He added:
"I said at the end of the year we're going to look at everything. Sometimes people fall in love with ' 'let's make a big change just to make a big change.'”
That change involves a potential Mitch Marner trade. However, Treliving has been careful to point out the team is not making a move for the sake of making one.
Treliving concluded:
“At the end of the day, you can go out and make big changes. If they're not making your team better, to me it doesn't make any sense to just make a change just to stand up and say 'look at it, we made this big change.'"
If that big change involves moving Mitch Marner, the club will at least consider making the move. Otherwise, all signs point toward the Leafs running with the Core Four of Marner, Matthews, John Tavares, and William Nylander, for one more season.
Mitch Marner among other things on the Leafs' to-do list
While a potential Mitch Marner trade has captured all the attention this offseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ other moves have garnered attention. Beyond the major signings of Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the club extended Joseph Woll and brought in Anthony Stolarz to shore up the goaltending.
However, other areas require attention. Namely, the ongoing saga with Nick Robertson, who has requested a trade, and additional forward depth top the Leafs’ to-do list.
While internal options such as Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan look to inject youth and skill into the lineup, the club cannot fully count on these rising stars to play a full-time role just yet. If Minten or Cowan prove unready for a full-time role, the Leafs may need to consider adding other free-agent players to boost the forward depth group.
As such, there’s a possibility that the club may choose to bring in other free-agent forwards on professional try-out contracts. Considering that Toronto is right up against the cap, the club will need to be careful to ensure they have the right mix of players to support the Core Four during this pivotal season.
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