I’d trade Mitch in a heartbeat.
What could we get for him? I'd love to know his worth. Who are some potential targets that we could get for Marner?
Who is the best defenseman we could get?
Provorov?
Theodore?
Power?
What about a very different type of forward?
Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa would laugh)
Tom Wilson (plus a pick maybe?)
I have wanted to get away from Marner's contract since he signed it, he just doesn't do it for me. He's responsible defensively and a great passer, but nothing more. He is physically weak and doesn't show up in the big moments. I have seen no improvement in his game, and he may even be getting worse. I need a lot more for $11 million.
Now Nylander on the other hand, has shown steady improvement over the last few seasons. He's in a contract season, sure, but he's been trending up for years. He can be frustratingly inconsistent, especially defensively, and at times his effort level is questionable. However, there are other moments when he is a one man wrecking crew and singlehandedly turns a game upside with skills only very few others have.
Nylander is trending up and is a finisher. Marner's growth is stagnant at best, and he typically relies on someone else to finish his plays. I'd definitely trade Marner before Nylander, but I think most of us are over estimating Marner's worth and we'd be disappointed with the return. Tre really should have unloaded him when he we had the chance.