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On the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman discussed the latest rumblings surrounding the status of Marner in Toronto after an image surfaced across the internet of newly appointed head coach Craig Berube seemingly photographed having coffee with the forward.
As Friedman notes, the goal is not to “pour gasoline on the fire”, but the most recent echoings may turn some heads.
“One of the things a few people have told me is not to be surprised if this plays out over next season with Marner in Toronto,” Friedman said.
“This is such a delicate conversation between player and team because everyone is determined to look like a winner here.”
In the case of the Leafs, the team is determined to make the right move rather than a headline. For instance, the purpose of trading Marner could come with salary cap relief and allow them further to attack a bigger fish via trade or free agency. As Friedman points out, if it comes down to it, they cannot risk a “swing and a miss with this one”.
On the side of Marner, he is searching for the best possible situation – one that will put him and his party in a good light. A pathway he could pursue is betting on himself and playing out the remainder of his contract. Though this could be a legitimate possibility and at the same time, a dicey one, he has to understand the additional pressure and backlash he may receive.
Though there is little to no clarity regarding the direction the situation is trending towards, Friedman identifies the status of this case as similar to the one of Nazem Kadri in 2019 – which the Leafs do not want to repeat.
“Kadri got suspended twice in a row, there were people at the time who felt very strongly at the time that they had to make that trade but he went somewhere else, sorted himself out, was a critical member of a Stanley Cup Champion, and is a player Toronto very much missed after he left,” Friedman stated.
“I think there are people in the organization who are looking at this and believe, could this be Kadri 2.0’? Where Marner goes somewhere else, the spotlight is less intense, he learns how to balance everything, and goes out and becomes a key player on a Stanley Cup Champion in another city.”
Not every part of the scenario is comparable, but as suggested, it seems to be something that has run through the club's mind. Regardless, if the two sides cannot reason with one another, a split between Marner and Toronto could happen. However, as of right now, Friedman is not convinced of a divorce.
“If the contract demands on both sides are crazy, it’s going to lead to an eventual divorce anyway. I know there are some people saying he’s one hundred percent getting traded, on Sunday, June 2, I don't know if I’m so certain of that.”
On the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman discussed the latest rumblings surrounding the status of Marner in Toronto after an image surfaced across the internet of newly appointed head coach Craig Berube seemingly photographed having coffee with the forward.
As Friedman notes, the goal is not to “pour gasoline on the fire”, but the most recent echoings may turn some heads.
“One of the things a few people have told me is not to be surprised if this plays out over next season with Marner in Toronto,” Friedman said.
“This is such a delicate conversation between player and team because everyone is determined to look like a winner here.”
In the case of the Leafs, the team is determined to make the right move rather than a headline. For instance, the purpose of trading Marner could come with salary cap relief and allow them further to attack a bigger fish via trade or free agency. As Friedman points out, if it comes down to it, they cannot risk a “swing and a miss with this one”.
On the side of Marner, he is searching for the best possible situation – one that will put him and his party in a good light. A pathway he could pursue is betting on himself and playing out the remainder of his contract. Though this could be a legitimate possibility and at the same time, a dicey one, he has to understand the additional pressure and backlash he may receive.
Though there is little to no clarity regarding the direction the situation is trending towards, Friedman identifies the status of this case as similar to the one of Nazem Kadri in 2019 – which the Leafs do not want to repeat.
“Kadri got suspended twice in a row, there were people at the time who felt very strongly at the time that they had to make that trade but he went somewhere else, sorted himself out, was a critical member of a Stanley Cup Champion, and is a player Toronto very much missed after he left,” Friedman stated.
“I think there are people in the organization who are looking at this and believe, could this be Kadri 2.0’? Where Marner goes somewhere else, the spotlight is less intense, he learns how to balance everything, and goes out and becomes a key player on a Stanley Cup Champion in another city.”
Not every part of the scenario is comparable, but as suggested, it seems to be something that has run through the club's mind. Regardless, if the two sides cannot reason with one another, a split between Marner and Toronto could happen. However, as of right now, Friedman is not convinced of a divorce.
“If the contract demands on both sides are crazy, it’s going to lead to an eventual divorce anyway. I know there are some people saying he’s one hundred percent getting traded, on Sunday, June 2, I don't know if I’m so certain of that.”
