Once a Kings Fan Too
Joined: Jun. 2018
Posts: 41,685
Likes: 26,397
I do not understand this lemming-like anti-intellectual preoccupation among a segment of the Leafs fanbase with forcing Marner onto a team that can't afford him this season and is in an even worse position to absorb his anticipated extension in the future.
Los Angeles isn't about to adopt the by-now-discredited Toronto theory of roster construction of concentrating most of a team's power in superstars at the top. We're not trading our leading goal scorer, local boy and fan favorite and our future replacement for Drew Doughty to even out the cap hit difference between DuBois and Marner plus two replacements for Trevor Moore and Brandt Clarke.
The trade that makes sense for Los Angeles mathematically and realistically is DuBois plus some draft picks or prospects for Marner with $2.18 million retention, which is a deal nobody in the Los Angeles camp believes is anywhere close to being acceptable to the Maple Leafs. Blake made the star mistake once; he's unlikely to be allowed to repeat it. You should focus your attention on teams like Utah or Nashville who can afford Marner.