Player Discussion Mitch Marner - On Hiatus

[Trapper]

We’d be picking top 10 in the draft lottery. Lol

Not so much that missing Marner would sink us so low but the players would side with him and the team would just be in shambles.

Good. Maybe we can find our own Bouchard/Makar/MacAvoy/Heiskanen/Hughes in that draft.

 

[The Masters]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1798161168554479686

Leafs’ priorities and Marner​

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving had a packed Tuesday, his first day at the combine. It was meeting after meeting after meeting — some with player agents, some with other GMs, and obviously some with draft hopefuls.

“You’ve been talking to teams since the season ended, so met a few of them here,” Treliving told The Athletic on Tuesday. “And we’ve got several unrestricted and restricted free agents, so you’re meeting with agents on them and seeing if there’s a path to a deal. In some cases, the path is smoother than others.

“It’s early in some of the processes. So you’re meeting on that. And obviously the bulk of your time here is meeting with the kids for the combine.”

Treliving reiterated he remains interested in re-signing pending UFAs Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi if possible.

“But it’s got to work for them and it’s got to work for us,” he said. “We’ve got, certainly, some issues that we have to address on the roster. There’s a pie and there’s only so much to go around.

“We’ve got a few guys who are up. And part of this is getting better, too. It’s not just being the same. You’re trying to get better in the process, as well. So we’ll see.”

Mitch Marner’s future has been the most-talked-about subject in the Toronto market. He’s got a year left on his deal and a full no-move clause. Treliving and Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, as one would expect, met Tuesday.

“The thing I would say is, be very, very careful of what you read out there,” Treliving said when asked about Marner speculation. “Mitch is a hell of a player. He’s going into the last year of his contract. We’re not going to comment on any players. Any business that we conduct, we’ll do that between Darren Ferris and us. We’re not going to do play-by-play on it. We’ve got to look at every possible way for our team to be better.

“Mitch controls a lot of this whole thing (with the no-trade). If there’s a way to make our team better, we’re going to do it. But we’re certainly not going to make a trade just so we can pound our chest and say, ‘Look, we’re different.'”

But as Treliving reiterated, they will explore any meaningful way to make the team better. That’s his job as GM.

Reading between the lines, all options on Marner remain on the table:

1. He stays in Toronto and plays out his contract next season.

2. The Leafs look to extend him eventually.



3. Toronto gets a trade offer it feels makes too much sense and brings it to Marner’s camp (and no team would trade for Marner without an extension in place).

“We’re not scared to be bold and do things,” Treliving said. “But there’s got to be things to do out there.

“So we’ll see. But for me, we’ve got a really good player in Mitch Marner. That’s a good thing. We’ll just keep plugging away on it.”

 

[socko]

That's as generic as it gets without saying anything but the obvious (Mitch has a no-trade) but at least he didn't apologize for anything. That's a plus.

 

[Notsince67]

If he doesn't, will you?

I've been a fan for decades. My attention span isn't interrupted by petulant tantrums. I've watched and cheered for teams that were far worse than this one. I'll still be watching after the balls finally drop on some of the folks here.

 

[jaric1862]

Couple of interesting quotes from Lebrun’s interview with Treliving

1.
“The thing I would say is, be very, very careful of what you read out there”

2.
“We’re not scared to be bold and do things,”. “But there’s got to be things to do out there.”

Great interview. I would recommend signing up for the Athletic to read it.

 

[Confucius]

Good. Maybe we can find our own Bouchard/Makar/MacAvoy/Heiskanen/Hughes in that draft.

Yep yep yep, why would anything ever change, it is why we are what we are. Get fairly good trade away the future until it is obvious there will be no future and start over again. Rinse and repeat and on we go. Look out draft lottery here we come.

 

[Trapper]

Yep yep yep, why would anything ever change, it is why we are what we are. Get fairly good trade away the future until it is obvious there will be no future and start over again. Rinse and repeat and on we go. Look out draft lottery here we come.

What do Tampa, Colorado and Edmonton all have in common?
They took a step back with their stars and drafted Makar, Bouchard and Drouin (who became Sergachev). These D all figure prominently in their makeup. What have we been drafting? Trouble is we are stuck in neutral with 4 overpaid forwards spinning our wheels.
Do you want to keep making the playoffs and lose in the 1st or quick 2nd (if we get lucky) for eternity? It seems many people do.

 

[QJo]

I'd say the "emotional" ones are the ones who are irrationally attached to a player (any player) that hasn't lived up to his contract, especially in the playoffs.

The rational ones are the ones who want to move on from non performing assets to make the TEAM better.

That word is a real trigger for you. There are people who want him to stay out of emotion and people who want him gone out of emotion. Likewise for rational reasons. It's not bad to be emotional about a sports team. Fan emotion is the straw that stirs the drink. It is bad however to run a team on emotion.

 

[Confucius]

What do Tampa, Colorado and Edmonton all have in common?
They took a step back with their stars and drafted Makar, Bouchard and Drouin (who became Sergachev). These D all figure prominently in their makeup. What have we been drafting? Trouble is we are stuck in neutral with 4 overpaid forwards spinning our wheels.
Do you want to keep making the playoffs and lose in the 1st or quick 2nd (if we get lucky) for eternity? It seems many people do.

I’d like to watch entertaining hockey all year round, win more games than we lose. Make the playoffs and then anything can happen. Lose in the 1st round, well I miss a few games that could be very exciting. Not a big deal.

The alternative start over not a hope in hell of making playoffs but we will draft well for a few years. It’s ground hog day all over again.

 

[The Masters]

Couple of interesting quotes from Lebrun’s interview with Treliving

1.
“The thing I would say is, be very, very careful of what you read out there”

2.
“We’re not scared to be bold and do things,”. “But there’s got to be things to do out there.”

Great interview. I would recommend signing up for the Athletic to read it.

i posted the whole thing above

 

[PromisedLand]

PROGRESS!!! One way or another... This JOKE is not gonna be a Leaf if not next season then the season after

 

[ACC1224]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1798161168554479686

It’s good to see that they’re talking.

 

[ULF_55]

PROGRESS!!! One way or another... This JOKE is not gonna be a Leaf if not next season then the season after

Leafs have got quite a lot of mileage out of a 4th. overall pick.

Definitely a great pick.

If he leaves, thanks for the memories.

Now let's spend that $22mm in Cap Space..

 

[Legion34]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1798161168554479686

To me. The “Mitch controls these things” acknowledging a player by name about trades seems odd.

Sounds like “Mitch controls this” indicates an interest in trade.

I doubt he would respond the same re Matthews.

 

[Confucius]

PROGRESS!!! One way or another... This JOKE is not gonna be a Leaf if not next season then the season after

Well at least more are starting to admit, option 2 was the correct choice currently at 23% and rising. lol!

 

[PromisedLand]

We’d be picking top 10 in the draft lottery. Lol

Not so much that missing Marner would sink us so low but the players would side with him and the team would just be in shambles.

Actually we can't because the pos dubas traded the 1st round pick for the next year

 

[thewave]

To me. The “Mitch controls these things” acknowledging a player by name about trades seems odd.

Sounds like “Mitch controls this” indicates an interest in trade.

I doubt he would respond the same re Matthews.

He flat out threw the ball in Marners court (of public opinion). This is getting juicy.

 

[NMacrules]

Fixed.

I was looking forward to this post. TSN today just said "Marner holds all the cards".

And there is a good chance he decides not to waive, as per the thousand of rumors saying such.

So, 57 years of no balls, have a cookie.

 

[Confucius]

Actually we can't because the pos dubas traded the 1st round pick for the next year

Be more accurate he traded the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th round picks. You are correct not a great year to tank. But you know what’s going to happen….

 

[PromisedLand]

For sure he could get 12 mil as a UFA, with the cap projections, I’d argue absolutely somebody takes a chance.

IDGAF who pays him that. Someone can sign him for 20 AAV for all I care.

As long as Leafs don't extend him I am fine. We have other areas where we need improvement. Marner is NOT IT!

 

[DarkKnight]

Treliving quotes on Marner:

“The thing I would say is, be very, very careful of what you read out there,” Treliving said when asked about Marner speculation. “Mitch is a hell of a player. He’s going into the last year of his contract. We’re not going to comment on any players. Any business that we conduct, we’ll do that between Darren Ferris and us. We’re not going to do play-by-play on it. We’ve got to look at every possible way for our team to be better.”

“Mitch controls a lot of this whole thing (with the no-trade). If there’s a way to make our team better, we’re going to do it. But we’re certainly not going to make a trade just so we can pound our chest and say, ‘Look, we’re different.'”

“We’re not scared to be bold and do things,” Treliving said. “But there’s got to be things to do out there.”

“So we’ll see. But for me, we’ve got a really good player in Mitch Marner. That’s a good thing. We’ll just keep plugging away on it.”

Sounds like they'd move him if it was up to the Leafs. Very interesting.

Back to the gutter...

 

[A1LeafNation]

If Marner doesn't want to discuss an extension now, then we know where this is going.

Fix the defence and goaltending this year. Next year, fix the top 6:

Bertuzzi Matthews Nylander
Knies Draisaitl Cowan

 

[Confucius]

To me. The “Mitch controls these things” acknowledging a player by name about trades seems odd.

Sounds like “Mitch controls this” indicates an interest in trade.

I doubt he would respond the same re Matthews.

If I was to read between the lines, he may as well have said, we want to trade him but he isn’t giving up his NMC. So drop the puck. Lol

 

[Stephen]

Mitch is basically a $11 million placeholder. There’s literally no concern or worry that he walks himself out the door and we get zero trade return because that’s $11 million in freedom July 2025. Play hardball and nasty all you want. It’s over in 13 months time in a free agent class that currently consists of Draisaitl, Rantanen and Shesterkin.

 

[Confucius]

Mitch is basically a $11 million placeholder. There’s literally no concern or worry that he walks himself out the door and we get zero trade return because that’s $11 million in freedom July 2025. Play hardball and nasty all you want. It’s over in 13 months time in a free agent class that currently consists of Draisaitl, Rantanen and Shesterkin.

I guess if we overpay one of those guys by 2 million he may consider coming here.