But it may be time to atleast consider moving Marner.
I honestly believe, given entirely circumstantial but very convincing evidence, that the moment Treliving even suggests this to Shanahan the idea will be shot down immediately and with extreme prejudice.
It is become incredibly clear over the past 7+ years that the stars are treated like royalty at MLSE and as such are considered untouchable.
- AM & Marner's contracts. Dubas going way above & beyond to re-sign Nylander.
- The sharing of the second "A" between Mitch and Auston. God forbid the team hurts either of their feelings by not giving them one, so they both get one. Shared, but still.
- Babcock - among the most stubborn, egotistical coaches in recent history flies down to Arizona in his off-season to patch things up with 34. Anyone who believes the narrative that it was entirely his call to make that trip because he'd "changed" is delusional.
- You can count on one finger the number of times under Keefe that any of the stars had been benched for even a single shift after making a really bad play or not hustling back on defense, etc.
- I still believe that a big part of why Dubas left was his assertion in his final presser than "everything" was on the table. That clearly implied potentially moving on from on one of the core. MLSE wanted absolutely none of that talk.
So long-winded way of saying, there is absolutely zero chance Mitch gets moved outside of him doing something so terrible (and made public) that he's considered toxic to the brand. Not likely. And Willie? Tre has his orders: "Sign him no matter what it takes." He's coming back too unless he simply doesn't want to.
And with that last essay of 2023, wishing everyone here on the Leafs board a Happy New Year and all the best in 2024.
