The Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings discussed a Marleau trade
Pierre LeBrun: Have heard that the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings have talked about a possible Patrick Marleau trade.
Marleau played in San Jose under Kings new coach Todd McLellan, so there is some thought that he might waive his no-trade clause.
As of now it doesn’t seem like there is a fit though. The Kings would need to move a contract or two.
Dennis Bernstein: It is coming from LeBrun so you have to take stock in the report.
With the Marleau report and GM Rob Blake suggesting they are looking to get younger, you have to think they are open to almost anything.
Included in anything would be entering the Artemi Panarin free agent sweepstakes.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic: A source is saying the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking at their options to create salary cap space.
“He’s trying very hard to be creative in creating cap space, like really hard,’’ an NHL source said on Friday.
Thursday it was made known that defenseman Nikita Zaitsev would welcome a trade, and now there is the Maple Leafs-Kings talk about Patrick Marleau.
There is the sense that Maple Leafs have a lot of things in the air right now.
The Kings may be open to the idea of helping the Leafs out by taking Marleau’s contract, but the Leafs would have to take back a longer-termed contract at a lower cap hit. There may not be a fit.
San Jose could be another potential option for Marleau, but there is no evidence the Sharks or Marleau would be interested.
Lisa Dillman of The Athletic: Looking at the Pros and Cons of the LA Kings trading for Patrick Marleau.
Pros: Respected veteran and mentor. Despite being 39-year old and 6′ 2″ 215 lbs, he can still skate. Played under coach Todd McLellan. Could collect an extra asset – draft pick or prospect.
Cons: Don’t have a pressing need for more leadership or grade-A prospects that need mentoring. His goal scoring decreased this past season. Kings may not be a playoff team next season so why take on someone like Marleau for one year. Kings would need to move salary. Wishful thinking the Leafs would take Ilya Kovalchuk.