TORONTO (Aug. 29) — This one makes a bit of sense. Amid all the gibberish involving Mitch Marner and the Maple Leafs, the gifted forward accepting a trade to Pittsburgh is far from implausible. Given, of course, that the Penguins are now run by Kyle Dubas, the former Leafs general manager responsible for the preposterous terms awarded Marner in a contract that expires after the coming season. Not so much the money, though nearly $11 million a crack was rather excessive for a skater with no playoff résumé. Not to mention unnecessary, considering Marner could play, at the time, nowhere but Toronto. That the contract included a full no–movement clause in the final two years was over the top the way a satellite arches around the globe. So, there probably isn’t a National Hockey League executive to which Marner feels more beholden. And, a little birdie has informed me that Kyle is plotting to get young Mitch into the black and gold of the Penguins. Like I said, it does have some merit.

I’m not aware of any details involving such a transaction. It would make, in my view, zero sense for the Leafs to appropriate a Marner–type salary, given that his $11 million — beginning in 2024–25 — could be used far more wisely by current GM Brad Treliving. Same applies to John Tavares and his $11 million coming off the books.

Many of those that cover the Leafs automatically assume Tavares will re–up with the club at a reduced salary. But, why? Hasn’t the aging captain (he’ll be 34 on Sep. 20) provided the Leafs all he can? Would his expiring salary not be more–wisely accorded two younger players that may help the Leafs down the line? Or, can the Toronto media simply not let go of its heroes in blue and white? As it pertains to Marner and the Penguins, Dubas would have to brilliantly execute some cap gymnastics. His club is merely $874,000 beneath the $88 million salary ceiling.

Should, however, a trade require the Leafs to assume a “dead” contract from Pittsburgh, it would not be worth asking Marner to waive his NMC. He’d provide the club more “value” by walking for free next summer. If Dubas, though, can manipulate his roster to make room for Marner, the Leafs could then ask for a couple of prospects and a high draft pick. Assets that will not burden the club, financially. Marner would receive a healthy contract extension from Pittsburgh and Treliving would procure a ton of cap maneuverability. Perhaps to acquire long–term help on the blue line. Or, in goal, should neither Joseph Woll nor Anthony Stolarz grab the No. 1 mantle.

Going to Pittsburgh would maintain proximity to Toronto for Marner and his wife, Stephanie. Only Buffalo and Detroit are closer. Mitch would have the chance to play with and learn from Sidney Crosby, undoubtedly the best player in the NHL throughout the salary cap era. Dubas, without question, would need to call on his years alongside Brandon Pridham here in Toronto, where the Leafs founded “Robidas Island” for players no–longer desirable under the cap. Crosby, 37, would never be among such figures, even with one year remaining on a paltry (by today’s standards) $8.7 million/year contract (imagine, this three–time Stanley Cup champion will earn nearly $5 million less in the coming season than Auston Matthews). Evgeni Malkin, now 38, has two years remaining at $6.1 million. Defensemen Erik Karlsson, 34, (just a shade below $10 million for three more years) and Kris Letang, 37, ($6.1 million for four more years) cannot be moved. That’s $31 million cemented in the Pittsburgh payroll.

So, Dubas would have to look elsewhere on the roster to somehow create space for Marner.

None of this, of course, needs to happen until next summer, when Marner could join the Penguins as an unrestricted free agent. Clearly, amid competition from other teams. Even then, Dubas would have a gargantuan task clearing cap room for the fleet forward, who will make north of $12 million in his next deal. At the moment, therefore, only three weeks before NHL training camps open, everything with the Maple Leafs is status quo.

GARBAGE TIME GLEE: The Toronto Blue Jays, stripped close to the bone at the Major League trade deadline last month, are being celebrated for a recent upswing (11–4 in 15 games from Aug. 12–26). Other than starting pitcher Bowden Francis, who came within three outs of a no–hitter last weekend, the surge is illusory… and so typical of professional sport in this city. For ages, Toronto teams have excelled in “garbage time”, when making the playoffs is no longer an expectation or burden. It almost cost the Maple Leafs a shot at drafting Auston Matthews, until management came to its senses. Having sufficiently “tanked”, the club got greedy and promoted several prospects from the American Hockey League; among them a rookie named William Nylander. A 6–2–1 mark (Mar. 7–24, 2016) nearly spoiled the entire Shanaplan. Similar uprisings with nothing more on the line occurred in the early years of the salary cap: 2005–06, when the club ripped off an 8–2–1 mark from Mar. 26 to Apr. 15; 2006–07, with an 8–4–2 surge from Mar. 2–31. In 2007–08, it was 12–4–1 from Feb. 16 to Mar. 22; 2008–09, 8–2–1 from Mar. 9–27. None of these clubs made the playoffs or showed any life until “garbage time”. Same with the Blue Jays, today. Possibly including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who began to heat up at the plate, exponentially, as the club’s playoff designs vanished. The big stars in town (Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette; Nylander, Marner, Matthews and John Tavares of the Maple Leafs, quarterback Chad Kelly of the Toronto Argonauts) have alarmingly withered when games still matter… or begin to matter. The sad, mediocre Blue Jays of 2024 are merely following the script.

MY GARDENS PROGRAMS — 1968–69 to 1976–77

Oh, the bygone days when programs were sold at sporting events. Such as hockey games at Maple Leaf Gardens. These items rank among the most–coveted in my collection. All in one box:

 
I HAVE 35 MAGAZINES DATING TO 1968–69 AND 1969–70 (ABOVE AND BELOW).

 

PROGRAM INSERTS / LINE–UPS FROM 1968–69 AND 1969–70 (BLUE); 1970–71 AND 1971–72 (WHITE).

 
 
THE OFFICIAL GARDENS MAGAZINE–INSERT (TOP–LEFT) FROM 1970–71 (BLUE) AND 1971–72 (WHITE). THEN, FROM THE DISAPPOINTING 1972–73 SEASON (WHITE AND ORANGE), AFTER THE MAPLE LEAFS HAD BEEN RAIDED BY THE UPSTART AND RIVAL WORLD HOCKEY ASSOCIATION.

 
IN 1973–74 AND 1974–75, THE GARDENS SOLD ISSUES OF GOAL MAGAZINE (THE NHL’S OFFICIAL PUBLICATION). LEAF ROOKIES INGE HAMMARSTROM AND BORJE SALMING APPEARED ON THE COVER OF A CALIFORNIA AT TORONTO PROGRAM (LINE–UPS, BELOW) IN DECEMBER 1973.

 
A STACK OF MLG PROGRAMS FROM THE 1975–76 SEASON, INCLUDING THE NIGHT (FEB. 7, 1976) LEAFS CAPTAIN DARRYL SITTLER ERUPTED FOR TEN POINTS (SIX GOALS, FOUR ASSISTS) AGAINST BOSTON (LINE–UPS, BELOW), STILL A LEAGUE RECORD FOR MOST POINTS IN A GAME.

 
A HAUL OF MAGAZINES FROM THE 1976–77 SEASON AT THE GARDENS, INCLUDING IAN TURNBULL’S RECORD NIGHT (FEB. 2, 1977 – LINE–UPS, BELOW), WHEN HE SCORED FIVE GOALS AGAINST DETROIT, STILL A RECORD FOR MOST IN ONE GAME BY A DEFENSEMAN.

A FULL BOX OF MAPLE LEAF GARDENS PROGRAMS FROM 1968–69 TO 1976–77.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM