Evan’s NHL Daily: Marner The Odd Man Out in Toronto? Avalanche Trade Bait

It’s only been a few days since the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated from the NHL playoffs, but the speculation has begun on who gets moved. A prominent insider hinted at who they think might be the one that gets shipped out.

It’s still quiet around the Colorado Avalanche, but we took a look at what assets they have to use in a trade this off-season, if they choose to do so.

All that and more in this edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

With a very weak free agency class, the Avalanche may have to look to the trade market to improve this summer. But you have to give to get, and trades over the last few years have left them short on assets. So what do they have left to trade? We took a look at that yesterday.

Bowen Byram is only 21, extremely talented, and scored at a nearly 20 goal pace last year. But his underlying numbers aren’t that impressive, and he has yet to stay healthy over the course of a full season. We took a look back at his season yesterday.

NHL Trade Chatter

There will obviously be changes to the Toronto Maple Leafs. They’ve underperformed in the playoffs and even after making it past the first round this season, fell pretty easily to the Florida Panthers.

So who takes the fall? The head coach might. That remains to be seen. Earlier this week, some wondered if William Nylander was the odd-man out in the core group of players. Yesterday, reporter Chris Johnston hinted that it might be a much bigger name with a much bigger price tag.

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Mitch Marner’s cap hit is nearly $11 million for two more years, and not many teams in the NHL will be able to take that on. But if they move Marner, that’s a big change, and sends a message to the rest of that locker room.

And no, I don’t think the Avalanche should get involved. Marner is a fantastic player, but that cap hit would be a tough one to work around.

National Hockey Now

BNH: Hampus Lindholm had a tremendous year, but was a shell of himself in the postseason. There may be a reason why.

SJHN: Could the Coyotes be moving to Sacramento?

Philly: The Flyers have a new President in Keith Jones, but he’s finishing his gig at TNT first.

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