Trade Pitch Has Maple Leafs Acquiring $49.6M Star to Replace Marner

The Toronto Maple Leafs still haven’t truly replaced Mitch Marner this offseason, but that could soon change.

Heavy.com proposed a trade that would see the Maple Leafs acquire Owen Tippett from the Philadelphia Flyers in a multi-player blockbuster deal.

Maple Leafs acquire:

• Owen Tippett

Flyers acquire:

• Easton Cowan
• Calle Jarnkrok
• Nick Robertson
• 2028 first-round pick
• 2027 fourth-round pick

The proposed deal would be a blockbuster as the Maple Leafs would get a legit first-line winger who can help replace the void of Marner. Philadelphia, meanwhile, gets two NHL players, a top prospect, and two draft picks, including a first-rounder.

The Maple Leafs would acquire Tippett, who can play on the top line and add some much-needed offense to Toronto’s lineup. The 26-year-old is entering the second year of his eight-year, $49.6 million deal. Tippett recorded 20 goals and 23 assists and 43 assists last season with the Flyers. With the Maple Leafs, his offensive production would likely increase as he’d be playing on the top line and getting power play time.

In return, the Maple Leafs would deal two draft picks and Cowan as the big part of the package. Cowan is Toronto’s top forward prospect and could push for NHL playing time with the Flyers next season.

Jarnkrok, meanwhile, is someone the Maple Leafs are looking to trade, as Toronto would need to clear more cap space. Jarnkrok is entering the final year of his four-year, $8.4 million deal. He’d be a bottom-six forward for the Flyers.

The final player the Maple Leafs would trade is Robertson, who doesn’t have a clear-cut role in Toronto. He’s an RFA who could get a bigger role with the Flyers. He recorded 15 goals and 7 assists for 22 points in 69 games.

Where Would Tippett Fit On The Maple Leafs?

The trade pitch would be a hefty price to pay for Toronto, but one that does make sense.

The Maple Leafs are in their win-now window and need to add another offensive threat, which Tippett is. Although Cowan is a good prospect, he’s yet to play an NHL game, and whether or not he’d even make the Maple Leafs roster is to be seen.

Meanwhile, Jarnkrok and Robertson are depth pieces and not much of a loss, as the real trade would be Cowan and a first.

However, Tippett would be more than worth it as he can play on the Maple Leafs’ top line on the right wing alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. That role was held by Mitch Marner, who left this offseason.

Tippett can also play power play time and give Craig Berube another offensive weapon to build the lineup around.

Maple Leafs Looking to Replace Marner

Toronto saw Marner leave this offseason, and since then, the Maple Leafs have added more depth pieces.

Toronto added Nic Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Michael Pezzetta, who are all bottom-six forwards, while also acquiring Mattias Maccelli, who can be a top-six forward. However, general manager Brad Treliving says he’s looking at acquiring a top-six forward.

“When a player of Mitch’s magnitude moves away, that’s never a fun day… In a situation where a player was walking away this morning for nothing, we were able to recoup a player that fits a need for us… Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said on July 1. “That’s really where our focus is.”

Currently, Maccelli projects to be the first line right winger where Marner played.