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The NHL trade market saw a significant trade between the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres on Friday, as former top-ten draftee Matthew Savoie was shipped to Edmonton for center Ryan McLeod and a minor leaguer. The Toronto Maple Leafs has made some free agent signings, but the question is whether the additions of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Chris Tanev, Anthony Stolarz, and Jani Hakanpaa is all that GM Brad Treliving will do between now and training camp.
If this is the extent of the changes that the Maple Leafs make, then as usual the leadership of the organization has fallen well short of what their fanbase expects. The chatter regarding Mitch Marner has quieted, and every time the subject of his contract, a possible trade, or extension is brought up, Treliving is complimentary of the winger, and says as little as possible.
The latest regarding Marner came from Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, who said prior to the start of free agency, former Leaf Ryan O’Reilly encouraged Nashville GM Barry Trotz to try to trade for the All-Star winger. The Preds instead opted to sign free agents Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei, and Jonathan Marchessault. Vegas continues to be a rumored destination since the Golden Knights lost Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson in free agency, but as with many clubs, it is hard to imagine how they can fit Marner’s $10.9 million salary under the cap, or whether he would waive his no-movement clause to head to Sin City.
Any possible destination will be up to whether Marner and his camp will waive his NMC to go someplace else. Agent Darren Ferris may be gambling that the Leafs will cave as they did with William Nylander last fall and offer an extension, but if they lose that bet, it costs his client a year on a free agent deal and anywhere from $10 to $12 million. It’s more likely that if Treliving cannot engineer a trade, he will opt to go through the season, clear nearly $22 million in cap space with the expiration of Marner and John Tavares’ deals and go into the free agent market to remake the Leafs.
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Leafs restricted free agent Connor Dewar was one of 14 NHL players who filed for salary arbitration on Friday. The 25-year-old forward was acquired by Toronto at the trade deadline for a 2026 fourth round pick and prospect Dmitry Ovchinnikov, and between Minnesota and Toronto, he had 19 points (11 goals, 8 assists) in 74 games. Dewar is a pesky and effective fourth liner with two years remaining until unrestricted free agency.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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