Maple Leafs reportedly only have two untouchables on their roster

PUBLICATION

Cooper Godin
May 11, 2024 (10:23)

SHARE THIS STORY

The Toronto Maple Leafs are scratching their heads after yet another early exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They've has been more than patient with their 'Core 4' of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Mitch Marner, who have all been together since the 2018, when the team signed their captain as a UFA.

A word that Maple Leafs fans are going to hear a lot over the coming weeks and months is 'change'. The team has let head coach Sheldon Keefe go after parts of five seasons with the NHL club and nine years in the organization and now it appears that some big changes could be coming to the roster this summer.

According to Jeff Marek of Sportsnet, the Toronto Maple Leafs only have two untouchables on their roster - Auston Matthews and William Nylander. If this is true, it means captain John Tavares, forward Mitch Marner and defenceman Morgan Rielly are all available, among others. There is one name that is very likely to be moved that isn't apart of the untouchables and that's Matthew Knies.

"There is the element of you know, everything is going to be examined, everything in on the table. I don't think for a second that anyone thinks someone like Auston Matthews is on the table and that conversation is going to be had. I think you could extend that, I would imagine, to William Nylander, who by the way, would have been Brendan Shanahan's, after Shanahan took the job in 2014, his first pick as an employee of the Toronto Maple Leafs." Marek said.

He added, "But still, after that though, I think it's jump ball. I think that John Tavares is on the table, I think Mitch Marner is on the table, I think that Morgan Rielly is on the table. I think all of it is."

The significance of a trade involving one of those three players mentioned by Jeff Marek - Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly - can't be understated. It would mark a new era for the Toronto Maple Leafs, however, moving one or more of those players would be difficult.

Marner, Tavares and Rielly all have a no-movement clause in their contract, which means they get to control, for the most part, where they get to go and if they want to leave the Maple Leafs organization. Marner and Tavares are entering the final year of their respective contracts next season and will be unrestricted free agents in July 2025, while Morgan Rielly has six years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $7.5 million.

It's going to be an interesting summer in Toronto and General Manager Brad Treliving is going to be very busy trying to hire a new Head Coach and improve his roster ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

POLL
Who do you think is most likely to be traded by the Maple Leafs this summer?
Mitch Marner	375	75.5 %
John Tavares	74	14.9 %
Morgan Rielly	48	9.7 %
List of polls