Hey Brad, Mitch Marner, off to an MVP-like start, isn't getting any cheaper!!!

The Toronto Maple Leafs great start to the NHL's 2024-25 season has pushed the giant Mitch Marner sized mistake they made this summer off the front pages, but it won't be long before it's all anyone is talking about.

The Toronto Maple Leafs infamously neglected to sign the untradeable second-best player in franchise history (i.e Mitch Marner) and have now walked him directly to free-agency, making his contract more expensive by the day.

Mitch Marner is off to a great start, and he's likely going to have a career year.

The Leafs should have already signed him, and should be trying to do so every single day until it's done. But for now, I just wanted to write about what a great start to the season Marner is having.

Hey Brad, Mitch Marner isn't getting any cheaper!!!

Marner currently leads the Toronto Maple Leafs with seven points, and is second on the Leafs with one goal and four points at 5v5. (stats from naturalstattrick.com).

He leads all Leafs forwards in ice-time per game, playing about as much as their top defenseman, practically never leaving the ice.

Marner leads the Leafs forwards in PK ice-time per game, and the Leafs PK has been excellent, stopping 85% of chances.

Marner's ridiculous 58% Expected Goals Rating is third on the team after Matthews and Tanev.

The Leafs get 64% of the scoring chances when he's on the ice, 65% of the dangerous chances, and have won his minutes 5-2.

Mitch Marner has been the Leafs best overall forward, and if not for Chris Tanev and William Nylander, we'd probably say he's been their best player so far. He plays in all situations, and the team just destroys the opposition whenever he plays.

Look for Marner to challenge for the scoring title this year. Look for his agent to reaise his asking price after every single game. After a few months of the stupidest trade rumours in NHL history and is own fanbase constantly slagging him on line (only a few and an obvious minority, but they are the loudest) Marner's excellent start has been somewhat quite, what with everyone talking about Berube, Stolarz and Lorentz!

The Toronto Maple Leafs need Mitch Marner more than he needs them. They cannot replace him, cannot trade him, and so, they must pay him.

He deserves to be among the highest paid players in the NHL. Let it be with the Leafs.