This past weekend a lot of news came out from Insiders regarding the expiring contract of current Toronto Maple Leafs Mitch Marner which comes to an end on July 1.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas signed Marner to a six-year deal back in September 2019 which carried a $10.9 Million cap hit. The contract also had a no movement clause for the final two-years of the deal which means Marner would have had to approve any trade for him to leave the team that drafted him.
Since last July 1, Marner and the Maple Leafs were eligible to sign an extension, however, we are approaching the last trade deadline of his current contract and no extension has been signed.
One of the NHL's top Insiders Bob McKenzie was on the panel during the intermissions of the Maple Leafs and Blackhawks game on Sunday night where he gave his thoughts if an extension would be signed: "Players like Marner are difficult to come by and if you don't do well in the playoffs you've got to keep working at it. I know Leafs fans don't like to hear that, I don't think it will happen, I think he is much more likely to go to free agency and I think the Leafs understand that, but do I think they'll try absolutely".
Brad Treliving should go around Darren Ferris and go directly to Mitch Marner
Monday morning another NHL Insider Darren Dreger joined Carlo Colaiacovo and Aaron Korolnek on TSN's First Up to respond to McKenzie's comments, which Dreger stated he agreed with the comments but added that he felt Treliving should bypass Marner's agent Darren Ferris and go directly to the player.
He added that he feels that Treliving should put pressure on the player and agent to come up with a decision as the Maple Leafs could quickly move off of Marner on July 1 to a player like Mikko Rantanen. Dreger further added the recent news of a Marner baby into his family; and you'd have to expect knowing where he will be living over the next decade could eleviate some stress.
Surprisingly, this is the first time contract talks have really come up by Insider's and the media throughout the season. It also comes over a week of a high and low emotions surrounding the former fourth overall pick.
At the Four Nations Cup, Marner struggled throughout the first game but ultimately scored the overtime winner at 3 on 3. His next two games were train wrecks and had fans feeling that playoff Mitch Marner was on display, however, he lifted hopes in the Championship game where he had arguably his best career game which included setting up the overtime winning goal by Connor McDavid.
If Marner decides to wait until July 1, he will lose the opportunity to sign an eight-year deal and will have to settle for seven years which will carry him through age 35 season. If Marner feels he can get $14 Million on as an unrestricted free agent, the total cost over an eight-year deal now with the Maple Leafs would be $12.25 Million.