Monster trade reportedly brewing involving Mitch Marner and Jacob Trouba

It started out as a possible trade scenario, but it now has fans and pundits wondering if an actual move could be materialized. Chatter surfaced about the possibility of a transaction getting done between the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs despite Jacob Trouba’s and Mitch Marner’s contractual clauses.

The rumour trade sends Marner to New York in exchange for not only captain Trouba, but along with former first overall Alexis Lafreniere. There are rumours that the two teams could be or could have considered it. 

For now, less than a week into free agency, general manager Brad Treliving managed to add some depth on the Leafs’ back end without having to move the star winger, however, Trouba could be a key piece to bring on board not only on the blue line, but also with his grit and physicality. Trouba makes $2.8 million less than Marner, which would also free up some cap space for a great boost up front in Lafreniere, who has a cap hit of $2.3 million. Combined with Trouba on a trade shipping Marner to the Big Apple, the Maple Leafs would save the Leafs $500,000 in cap space in that trade.

However, there’s been a lot of drama in New York linked to the rumours of a Trouba trade. The blue liner owns a 15-team no-trade clause and he is believed to be working closely with his “aggressive” agent Kurt Overhardt to block a trade from the Rangers.

The Blue Shirts and general manager Chris Drury want to clear Trouba’s $8 million salary cap hit from New York’s books, and rumours even emerged that the Rangers were working on a deal to send him back home to Michigan with the Detroit Red Wings. However, Trouba wants to stay put in New York and could have included the Red Wings on his 15-team list to spike a trade, seeing that there aren’t a lot of teams that can take on his cap hit. He could do the same with Toronto. News came out that Trouba wants to stay in New York City with his wife’s current hospital residency among the many factors in his decision.

Trouba has two years left on his current contract, making $8 million against the cap through the 2025-26 season. Last season he recorded 22 points in 69 games and added another seven points in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Rangers would love to add a dynamic forward to their roster, joining stars Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. But money talks and in this case, Marner and Trouba’s clauses speak way louder.