For months now, the Toronto Maple Leafs and restricted free agent Mitch Marner‘s camp have been at war over the details of a contract extension. Marner has been rumored to be desiring around the cap hit of Connor McDavid. The Maple Leafs, at the moment, cannot afford such an extension.
With Jake Gardiner heading to free agency and Gardiner’s reputation in Toronto somewhat marred, the Maple Leafs decided to do business with the Ottawa Senators. The Leafs would give Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown, and Michael Carcone, in exchange for Cody Ceci, Ben Harpur, a 2020 3rd round pick, and Aaron Luchuk.