The key to setting this team right is cap relief to allow for flexability.
You can't trade Mathews or Tavares. Rielly is a no-move and recently signed longterm. Trading Nylander provides some cap relief but the loss of his offense for a smaller return is not as beneficial as freeing 10.9 in cap space and the significant return for Mitch Marner. (I also prefer Nylanders ability to break through defensive lines, his ability to physical protect the puck is superior to Marner. Yes, he is frustrating, but he's performed very well in play-offs and if he's pushed he performs where-as Marner has tantrums. I also respect Nylanders ability to remain calm and poised. He doesn't get unglued the way Marner does. I totally get that when he's off it's horrendous, but the difference is that the opposition is incapable of getting under his skin. Marner is a target – EVERY NIGHT by EVERYONE because they know he get's emotional, frustrated and he shows it openly. Get to Marner and you affect Mathews - that is a huge detriment to the team).
Marner is a franchise player for half the teams in the league... the Leafs already have their franchise player – Mathews. Keeping both of them is redundant. Marner is susceptible to pressure and this is exploited by opposition, rendering him ineffective in high pressure games (ie play-offs). When Marner is shut-down you effectively eliminate 50% of Mathews offense, which ultimately kills the first line.
Based on this perspective Marner is the greatest asset for another team to acquire and the Leafs to use to build depth.
So who would want him?
Everyone... because his offense and skill is fantastic. I have focused on 5 teams that would probably love to take a swing on acquiring Marner who have assets the Leafs could use.
Seattle – would love a franchise player and have Yanni Gourde, Adam Larrson and Jared McEwan as potential trade options.
Vancouver – less options, but a conversation of acquiring Quinn Hughes wouldn't be off the table. But that's probably unattractive to the Canucks.
New Jersey – assets galore, but things are finally clicking there and I doubt they would want to derail their momentum.
Nashville – Taner Jeanot and Dante Fabbro would be great additions, but Leafs would have to take back a heavy contract as well and the options there aren't appealing to Nashville or the Leafs.
So.... I have focused on L.A..
The trade to L.A. Is not to bring back offense. It's to round out the depth and add size, grit and tenacity. Which the Leafs are sorely lacking. There is no trade involving Marner that will come out as a win for the Leafs based on a return of offense. SO... the best way to win a Marner trade is to address what the Leafs need, not an “equal” return. This means you have to bite the bullet, accept the disparity in return and take a chance. L.A. Is one of the few teams that has the pieces and still holds on to their own depth at the price of attaining a franchise superstar. I include Nick Robinson in this trade as he's an L.A. Boy and is an attractive prospect for the Kings.
In return the Leafs get....
Matt Roy - a tough, physical right handed depth defenseman. He also can fight.
Lemieux is a tenacious depth winger. He dictates the drive of his line and finishes checks.
Trevor Moore is big solid winger who is becoming a top 6 power winger, he can also be a bottom 6 offensive threat. I think we collectively groaned when Leafs traded him... I'd love to have him back.
Viktor Arvidsson is a return of salary as L.A. Needs some cap space to take Marners contract. He's skilled offensive player if the Leafs keep him, good top 6 winger.... but I would flip him for Foligno.
Acquiring a player of Marcus Foligno's ilk is a literal imperative for Toronto. This is the type of forward they are lacking. He's big, he throws hits, he fights, he can score, he's dependable and dammit he's a Foligno... and I love the Foligno's.
Trading Alex kerfoot just feels like a “it's time” move. Send him back home to Vancouver (they could use some more offense) and just bring back a return of 4th line center and a late draft pick. It's a steal for Vancouver really, but desperate times requires some unpleasant moves. He's gone for nothing in the off-season anyways. Nils Aman is turning into a good 4th liner in only his 2nd year. He was drafted in 6th round and it's staring to look like he's got more to offer than just 6-8 mins / game.
Malgin, Holl and Engvall are just not worth the time anymore. These guys can bring back some late picks. We've held onto these guys for too long and it's obvious they cannot improve beyond what we've already seen. This is the type of bottom 6 the Leafs need to move away from.

Minnesota isn't trading Marcus foligno at all!

Vancouver declines. I see no reason why we would trade a good, young player for a soon to be UFA.

Well no matter what you aren't getting foligno from Minnesota. He's the heart and soul and they aren't breaking up their grief line

I think that Los Angeles respectfully declines. It seems to me like our teams are headed in opposite directions, with Matthews, Nylander and Brodie expiring in 2024 and our team set for the immediate future with the exceptions of local boy Trevor Moore and fan/front-office favorite Mikey Anderson, both of whom are well within our budget to re-sign.

Moore and Lemieux don't provide any long term value as they are UFA this summer, so don't trade Robertson.
I just might do the Marner for Arvidsson and Walker and a second for Marner as it would really help the Leafs cap now and in the future.
Might as well keep Kerfoot, Malgin, and Holl for the season.....Not getting much for them in a trade, and you need as part of the 23 man roster, and really Kerfoot is kinda needed.
And as mentioned above, Foligno stays in Minni.

Exactly this. The Kings are so close to having 4 great lines to take on top heavy teams like the Oilers, Vegas, and well um... Toronto. Goaltending and defense are the only pieces we should be interested in.

A conversation around Hughes would be an immediate no

Prove it.

... and this is exactly why Vancouver is playing so badly.

Of course... which is why I didn't make the trade. It's a c-o-n-v-e-r-s-a-t-i-o-n... because that's how trades occur. If someone posted 5 yrs ago that Nashville would trade She Weber for P.K. Subban the responses on this thread would be exactly the same.

Prove it? Don't have to prove anything to you. Our gm is also the reason foligno is going nowhere. He's the face of the franchise behind kaprizov. Wild use foligno in marketing, surprising season holders etc.. our gm isn't trading him

LOL, not trading assets for a pending UFA has nothing to do with Vancouver's current struggles.