Marners nmc would decline

no

True, and BTW I think Laine would be great for the Leafs, if we traded Klingberg and Reaves for him and got a 3rd team to take 1/2 retention and a 4th team to take another 1/4. Then he wouldn't be so hard to bury in the minors.

Laine sucks

I can't see Columbus making this trade. It doesn't make them a play-off team, Marner walks as a UFA, and they lose one of their best prospects.

Klingberg is ir ur gonna need 5 mil moved from smw else

Yeah Columbus isn’t giving up all these assets when marner doesn’t make them a playoff team and then he walks in a year and a half

I guess you missed the sarcasm. Laine is a 1 dimensional spoiled brat nobody should want.

If there's an outside shot Marner would actually sign long-term and spend the rest of his career in Columbus, sure. If that's the case, maybe he waives his NMC and accepts a trade...but I doubt it.

As a separate discussion, Laine has been really not good since coming back. No puck control or creativity, tons of turnovers and not a lot of effort. I'm not convinced he's fully healthy, and if he is...he's either got to pick it up quickly or he'll be done in the NHL by 30.