The Toronto Maple Leafs have completed a deal that seemed impossible just a few days ago, trading Patrick Marleau to the Carolina Hurricanes. Toronto will also send a conditional 2020 first-round selection and a 2020 seventh-round selection and will receive a 2020 sixth-round pick in return. If the first-round pick is a top-10 selection, the Hurricanes will instead receive a first-round pick in 2021.
Marleau is expected to be bought out by the Hurricanes to become an unrestricted free agent. A buyout will not result in any cap savings for the Hurricanes given Marleau signed his current contract after the age of 35, meaning his entire $6.25MM hit will be applied to their books.
The Maple Leafs were desperate to clear some salary this summer thanks to ongoing negotiations with restricted free agents Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, and Marleau’s name has been in trade speculation for weeks. GM Kyle Dubas had recently said however that it seemed likely the veteran forward would start the year in Toronto, meaning this deal very well could have come together quickly at the draft in Vancouver. A first round pick is a steep price to pay, but the Maple Leafs will gain a huge amount of cap space in a season where they believe they can compete for the Stanley Cup.
Marleau, 39, just finished his worst offensive season since his rookie year back in 1997-98, but still recorded 16 goals and 37 points for the Maple Leafs. While not good enough to fill those $6.25MM shoes, he still does have a few playing days left in him if he chooses. Though that could technically take him back to Toronto as the Washington Capitals proved with Brooks Orpik last year, Marleau commandeered his wife’s twitter account to issue a goodbye to the organization and Maple Leafs’ fans. It seems more likely that he is heading back to California and perhaps the San Jose Sharks, though the Hurricanes intend on having a conversation to see if he would be willing to play for them first.
The veteran forward hasn’t missed a single game in the last ten seasons and has suited up 1,657 times in the NHL regular season. His 1,166 career points put him 53rd on the all-time list, only behind Joe Thornton, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin in terms of active players.
Marleau and a first rounder for a 6th? talk about giving the guy away
The window for winning just got smaller. A 1st just to take a bad contract? Thanks Uncle Lou!
1 contract gone. another one (kapanen) moments away.
should say they are about to sign kapanen.
interesting to note that they are putting the squeeze on Marner and his agent with the PK rumours. Basically a “How much so you want to play here?” move
Well wonder what the conditions are on that first
well let’s wait till we find out the condition. could be a first could be a 2nd. could be a 1st that ends up 30th if they make a cup final.
sounds like they couldn’t get a taker in Cali for his contract so this was a way for Carolina to get a pick and for Marleau to negotiate a cheap deal with LA, SJ or maybe Zona even.
so with the condition it’s good for Carolina and the leafs. it helps the leafs lock up more young talent and the canes just basically bought a 1st rounder.
Yikes. One of Lou’s real big mistakes of his career.
Could we see Marleau going back to the leafs on a league min contract now? Before people jump down my throat on this remember the caps did it last year
Everyone but the Leafs saw that third year as a disaster. I know it wasn’t Dubas’ mess on this one, but…expensive cleanup. He seems to be in over his head.
Sure baffles me? Marleau, plus a conditional first round pick, a seventh round pick in return for a 6th round pick? Seems like a lot of work on a deal just to relieve the Leafs of Marleau?
How does a deal like this bring parity to the league? A good player and high pick gone for a 6th rounder…
They need to close the loophole of allowing players to be traded, bought out and then resigned
Haha having to give up a 1st to get rid of a guy. Yikes what a mess in Toronto.
Kyle doofus still walking around with that stupid smirk on his face??
Given that Carolina took Marleau’s cap hit from Toronto, it seems fair. Toronto traded Marleau and a high pick for a low pick and cap space. In the salary cap era, teams with more cap space can use this as leverage when negotiating trades.
Why? It doesn’t happen that often, it doesn’t really hurt the league too much, and it’s not nearly as ridiculous as the NBA allowing players to jump ship to a contending team a month and a half (or whatever it is) before the playoffs start. At least this happens after the season. So, respectfully, I don’t understand your aversion here.
For those suggesting that Marleau is just going to resign in Toronto for the minimum, I don’t think he’s going back to Toronto. He told Toronto he wanted to go back West to be closer to his family, and like the article suggested, Toronto likely couldn’t find a partner out there to take on Marleau’s contract. Considering that Carolina is likely just going to buy him out I’d have to imagine that if there were any suitors for him out West, it was likely a bigger price tag than a 1st and a 7th rounder. That or Toronto potentially presented him with an opportunity to get sent back West but not to a team/location he was interested in and tried to do him a favor by finding a team that would just buy him out.
they need those picks to get cheap talent to keep the window open. they already have problems with the cap as it is.
This is a fine trade. Be mad at Lamoriello for giving him that third year, not at Dubas for clearing it off the books. Would you rather this or dumping Kapanen and Connor Brown and then still not be able to resign Gardner?
Should have thrown in Zeitsev
Hopefully Zaitsev will be next , then can go out pick up a low salary right hand Defenseman, have to work on dumping Hainsey as well. Leafs have depth on D in system or get another D’man,
Kyle doofus!
Why did Ottawa not make this deal? It is like they are immune to competency!
How is he the doofus? He’s not the one who gave out the contract? He is the one who is cleaning up the mess and paying the necessary price? Please explain why he should be derided.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs have a top 10 pick in 2020 you all are more than welcome to take a ride on my flying pig.
coastal giwbis kyle a doofus? he had to get rid of a contract to free up cap space.
the leafs can always find league minimum salaries. any team can.
how is kyle a doofus? what would be nuts is letting your young RFAs go because you want to honour a 3rd year of a contract
my comment had nothing to do with the trade!! he is a doofus and all I asked was is he still walking around with the dopey smirk?? geeze!! put yet panties back on leaf fans!!
Again, how is he a doofus? You say it’s not because of this trade, then why? Also, not a Leafs fan at all! I hope that they never win another Cup, because of their fans. I am just curious as to why there is so much dislike for him. Ottawa and about 15 other teams would love to have him as GM.
What a horrible trade. Better to trade Nylander for picks and prospects and keep Patrick than what this idiot just did. Dubas. Just not ready….
Because he looks and talks like he knows everything (which he doesn’t), and he’s making a mess of this team. That’s why. He’s got a stupid smirk that you want to slap off his face too. He’s ruining this team along with Babcock.
Dubas never signed Marleau for starters. Glad it only cost a conditional 1st round pick for someone to take Marleaus salary, rather then the leafs to have to package a B prospect, or a Connor Brown for someone to take him.
JD,
This wasn’t a mistake made by Lou. It was a good signing for the Leafs. He played well for them he’s old and the game has caught up with him as his speed had diminished. Marleau added veteran leadership to a dressing room that clearly needed it.
Gerald,
Hainsey is as good as gone he’s a UFA bud do your homework. If you were a true Leafs fan you’d know this. Unless he wants to sign for cheap he’s not back.