Mitch Marner has been at the center of trade speculation throughout the offseason, and one proposed trade scenario involves the Toronto Maple Leafs sending the winger to the St. Louis Blues.
Using the new PuckGM tool from the website PuckPedia, which allows users to craft their own trades, a recent suggestion involves Marner moving to the Blues in a potential deal.
The proposed trade is a significant one, involving the Toronto Maple Leafs sending Mitch Marner to the St. Louis Blues, along with offloading Ryan Reaves’ contract and including restricted free agent Alex Steeves.
In exchange, the Maple Leafs would receive a second-round pick, which could be used in future trades. The centerpiece of the return would be All-Star forward Robert Thomas. Thomas, who is entering the second year of his eight-year, $65 million contract, could either take over Marner’s spot on the right wing or serve as Toronto’s second-line center.
Last season, Thomas had a strong performance with the Blues, tallying 26 goals and 60 assists for 86 points in 82 games.
For St. Louis, acquiring Marner, who is in the final year of his six-year, $65.41 million contract, could be transformative. Marner could become a key player for the Blues, and a new environment might elevate his game further.
Additionally, the Blues would bring back fan favorite Ryan Reaves, who adds grit to the lineup. Alex Steeves, who has played in just seven NHL games but is 24 years old, could compete for a roster spot with St. Louis.
Thomas Had a Feud With Berube
Toronto recently hired Craig Berube as their new head coach, despite his history with Robert Thomas, which includes a notable feud. Last season, Berube publicly criticized Thomas, suggesting that the star players were not fulfilling their roles and implying a lack of commitment to the team.
“A lot of our best players are not doing the job… I guess they don’t care about the team. I don’t know. I’m not sure why,” Berube said to the media at the time.
In response to Berube’s remarks, Thomas addressed the issue on ESPN Radio, expressing his frustration. “It’s obviously frustrating to hear that,” Thomas told Carey & Randy. “I’ve been part of this team for a long time, and what he said couldn’t be further from the truth. I know everyone in that room cares, and it’s frustrating to hear those comments.”
Thomas was drafted 20th overall by the Blues in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Marner Wants to Remain With Maple Leafs
Mitch Marner, a native of the Greater Toronto Area, has the opportunity to play for his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Despite being the focus of trade speculation and entering the final year of his contract, Marner has expressed a strong desire to stay with the Maple Leafs. “I’m not going to delve into that too much today,” Marner said on August 14. “I’ll just say that I love being here. I’ve always said that from Day 1. I feel very fortunate and lucky to be a Maple Leaf. Today is about celebrating these two amazing people beside me.”
Over his career, Marner has played in 576 NHL games, amassing 194 goals and 445 assists for a total of 639 points.
