Maple Leafs avoided disastrous blockbuster trade involving Mitch Marner

But clearly, a trade never materialized, and the Maple Leafs currently deal with a different concern regarding Marner. So let's take a look at how Toronto avoided a catastrophic trade.

Mitch Marner for Jusse Saros: One year later

At the time, the Maple Leafs were in a rut when it came to their goaltending. Sure, they had Joseph Woll, but he was still unproven, and Ilya Samsonov headed out in free agency.

So with Toronto desperate to solidify its goaltending, there was talks of trading for Juuse Saros — who at the time had posted a 35-24-5 record with a 2.86 GAA and .906 SV% and looked primed to be one of the NHL's elite.

Fast forward to 2024-25 and Saros is a shell of his former self. Nashville has been bad this season — and so has Saros. He has an 11-23-6 record with a 2.95 GAA and .898 SV%, a stark contrast.

Looking at Marner this season, it's a wonder where the Maple Leafs would be if he had been traded.

In 55 games this season, Marner has 16 goals and 55 assists for 71 points and has unquestionably been the team's MVP. He's in line for a huge payday, and if Toronto doesn't re-sign him, someone is going to pay handsomely, especially if he finds playoff success.

Toronto instead decided to hedge its bets on a growing Woll as well as premier backup Anthony Stolarz, who is looking more and more like the best free-agent goalie signing in a long time for the Leafs.

Looking back, it's easy to see why Toronto may have been willing to trade Marner for goaltending help. Saros would have been cheaper, and Nashville could worry about Marner's free agency.

But you gotta think the Maple Leafs would be worse off if Marner wasn't a part of the team.