The Toronto Maple Leafs are still searching for ways to fill the offensive void left by forward Mitch Marner’s departure, and a significant move from their blue line could be on the table.
According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, the Leafs might trade one of their top two defensemen — Morgan Rielly or Brandon Carlo — to bring in reinforcements up front.
“The post-Mitch Marner era in Toronto has begun and the Leafs are left trying to figure out how their forwards will all come together next fall," Kypreos wrote. "The team is expected to be working the trade market all summer.
"If the Leafs move a [defenseman], it’ll likely only be one of them, but while Rielly comes with the complication of a no-movement clause, Brandon Carlo has just an eight-team no-trade list and so is also worth putting on the trade board.”
It's well known that Toronto is still looking to add more talent to their forward corps. General manager Brad Treliving appeared on the "Kyper & Bourne" podcast and acknowledged the challenge of replacing Marner’s production through multiple moves.
“You kind of got to do that in the aggregate,” Treliving said. “Can you try to get more depth? Can you, over a couple of moves, replace the offense you’re trying to replace and spread that out throughout the lineup?
“You’d like to (fill Marner’s void) yesterday,” Treliving said. “I don’t think you’re ever finished. You’re always looking to try to improve your team.”
The Leafs reportedly pursued top-six forwards in free agency but missed out on players like Nikolaj Ehlers and Brock Boeser, the latter rejecting an offer from Toronto.
When it comes to dangling Rielly and Carlo, the former has five years remaining in his contract carrying a $7.5 million annual cap it.
Carlo, meanwhile, was acquired from the Boston Bruins at last trade deadline and has three years left at $4.1 million per season.
