Since the beginning of the summer, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner has been the focus of trade rumors, and it seems unlikely that they will end any time soon.

PuckGM, a new tool available on the website PuckPedia that enables users to create their own transactions, has seen a lot of use. While some people execute more realistic swaps that would benefit both clubs, others make outlandish trades.

A user made a transaction that would send Mitch Marner to the New York Rangers in exchange for a number of other assets, including former first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere.

On paper, the deal makes sense and would be a blockbuster. Marner, who is still unsigned, is better than Lafreniere, thus the Rangers, who are in their Cup window, would have an impact playmaker to partner with Artemi Panarin. While bringing in Timothy Liljegren, a younger defenseman, New York is able to exit Jacob Trouba’s contract, as they had hoped.

Toronto, meanwhile, adds Lafreniere, who was selected first overall in 2020, to bolster their D-core even more and acquires top defenseman Trouba. Despite not having a contract yet, he is an RFA, meaning the Maple Leafs would own his rights and be able to sign him for a lot less than Marner earns.

It does appear likely that Marner and Trouba will stay with their respective teams going forward, though.

Marner Desires to Remain with the Leafs

Marner plays in the NHL for his local team, Toronto, having been born and raised there.

Despite being in the final year of his contract, Marner, a talented winger, has stated that he wants to stay with the Maple Leafs while playing for his hometown team.

That would be the objective. I have said how much I adore this city and this place. I have, of course, grown up here. We’ll start considering that right now and working to find a solution. It’s everything to me,” Marner said on May 6 to the press.

To be honest, you truly enjoy that we are treated like type of gods here. There is nothing like the love and attention you receive from this fan community. As evidenced by the Toronto Raptors of the NBA a few years ago, fans still harbor strong feelings for certain players who were traded this year but who were instrumental in the team’s 2019 championship run. You want that kind of love, Marner continued.

Marner played 69 games with Toronto last season, tallying 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points.

Likely to Stay with the Rangers is Trouba

Trouba has a no-trade clause and has stated that he wants to stay in New York, even if one user believes he was part of the transaction.

With two years remaining on his contract, Trouba is expected to be traded next year rather than this offseason, according to recent reports from NHL insider Arthur Staple of The Athletic.

“I would say the odds of a Trouba deal increase from “almost nil” to “virtually definite” if we were to speak next summer. Igor Shesterkin, Alexis Lafrenière, and K’Andre Miller require new contracts, along with a backup goaltender and possibly another top-nine attacker. This is something that both the team and the captain are aware of, according to Staple’s story.

With a year remaining on his contract, Truba would be more appealing to possible trading partners. Dr. Kelly Trouba, his spouse, would be finishing her residency at Manhattan’s Lenox Hill Hospital. For the Rangers and Trouba, who undoubtedly feels driven to forget the disastrous playoff run he had following a fractured ankle late in the regular season, things appear more organized come summertime, Staple continued.

With two seasons remaining on his contract, Trouba will earn $8 million annually.

For Heavy.com, Cole Shelton covers the NHL. Since 2016, he has covered collegiate and professional sports for a variety of publications, including BJ Penn, USA Today, Rotowire, SB Nation, and Canadian Baseball Network.Additional information on Cole Shelton