Should Capitals Consider Looking Into Marner? Maple Leafs Say 'Everything Is On The Table' & Could Shake Up Their Core

The Washington Capitals have a few questions to answer and may have a chunk of change to spend this offseason. That being said, a team they could potentially turn to for answers could be the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are pondering shaking up their core following a number of first-round exits and a lack of postseason success.

Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan wouldn't discuss the core or any specific players prematurely but did tell media that "everything is on the table" with regard to what to do this offseason. That being said, would Mitch Marner, who's eligible for an extension on July 1 but faces an uncertain future in Toronto, be an option to look at?

Nothing's certain for now, but let's take a look at the situation as a whole as the Capitals remain focused on bolstering the offense and bringing in a young, top-6 forward.

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Marner costs quite a bit, carrying a cap hit of $10.903 million next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. He would have to waive his no-trade clause to move elsewhere, but he may be one of those players that benefits from a change in scenery.

In 69 games this season, Marner picked up 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points, but his playoff performance raised some questions as he had just one goal and two assists in the first round against the Boston Bruins.

At times, the 27-year-old grew visibly frustrated, but looking at his career, he's put up impressive numbers as a point-per-game player. The extra spotlight on him and Toronto is no help, either, with critics putting him under the microscope as the team fails to make that extra jump when it matters most.

That's what the Capitals are currently missing. Though the youth movement, which features leading scorer Dylan Strome at the forefront, is in full swing in D.C., Washington doesn't have a player on the roster that is producing at a point-per-game pace as the offense continues to be a key issue.

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With Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom and Anthony Mantha all departing in 2023-24, the Capitals need to look toward the future and work to establish a new core, and a top-6, point-per-game player with star power could provide just that.

Plus, looking at Marner's style, which consists of exceptional playmaking ability, a solid shot and the ability to play heavy minutes, he could fit in well with the likes of Strome and an aging Alex Ovechkin up front as the Capitals look to get more scoring going.

Marner is also familiar with head coach Spencer Carbery, who ran the Leafs' power play in 2022-23 and helped them past the first round.

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But then, there's a somewhat harsh reality: the cost for Marner may be high, and it'd take quite a bit to bring him into the mix in D.C., including picks, prospects and current rising players. Perhaps, though, having only one year left on his deal and his past year may make that price tag a bit lower.

Salary would also likely have to be retained to afford a player like Marner, though the Capitals would have more to work with if T.J. Oshie doesn't return.

In the end, though, Washington's problems may not be solved by just one player alone. Still, it's something that may be worth looking into, especially if the Maple Leafs are willing to at least listen.