Who should take the blame in Toronto for letting Marner walk and get nothing in return?

[Commander Clueless]

The fans.

Too much pressure, but also they don't care enough to cheer loudly. But also they boo too loudly and they are too hard on the team. But also they are delusional and overvalue their players. But also they are too hard on Marner for his contract demands. But also they are too arrogant about the team that can't win anything. But also...

 

[disgruntleddave]

It's clearly Shanahan. Even valid criticism of the contract didn't cause this, the decision not to move him was a mandate from Shanahan.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Him leaving is probably mostly on the fans. Getting booed every time you touch the puck at home is usually not a sign that the fanbase is in love with you pair that with the fact that 99 percent of online comments about him are negative and you figure he's going to want out.

Getting nothing for him was on the org for not trading him before the NTC kicked in.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Sometimes you need to rip the bandaid off and not get so caught up in “asset management “

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Sometimes you need to rip the bandaid off and not get so caught up in “asset management “

Agreed. At this point there’s no other option.
I would have traded him a year or two ago for a haul but that ship sailed long ago.

 

[Mr. Fancy Pants]

Marner should have been traded after the Montreal series. It was clear even by then that the Core just didn't have what it took to be a playoff team. What the Leafs needed was a big trade ala Gilmour or Carter/Alomar to show everyone that winning is what matters and it doesn't matter if Matthews and Marner are best buddies. Marner's NMC hadn't kicked in then and his trade value still would have been high. Whoever didn't have the balls to do that should take the blame.

In general though, hiring a GM barely older than the players was boneheaded. The "We can and we will" attitude to giving the players everything they wanted before they had earned it set a bad precedent. Ultimately, I put the blame on Shanahan for hiring an inexperienced GM. That should have never happened.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Dubas tried to trade him when he had skyhigh value and no trade protection…… and was fired as a result;
Tre tried to trade him but couldnt, because his trade protection/Torontos desire to attempt to contend prevented it. IMO, his options were limited and he may have chosen the best one.

Shanahan hired a rookie GM and then refused to allow him to fix his mistake. I am guessing the “we can and we will” was as much Shanahan as Dubas, but at least Dubas realized he had to correct that. Shanahan never did.

 

[TS Quint]

Dubas said he didn't have full control of the team.

This started when Nylander took the Leafs to the woodshed sitting out for his RFA contract. Once that happened Shannahan stepped in and handled the contracts for his boys aka The Shannaplan. Shannahan gave Marner the contract and Shannahan gave the NTC to Marner who had always said he only wants to be in Toronto. Now Leafs fans are shocked that Marner didn't want to leave Toronto. Classic.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Shanny

 

[Gregor Samsa]

They basically treated him as a rental. If it worked out no one would question it. They still get cap space in return which could help their depth

 

[robertmac43]

I blame Shanny.

The contract was signed by Dubas but he gave himself a parachute with the NMC coming in during year 3. It sounded like he was going to make a move after the 2023 season before Marner's no move kicked in and Shanny fired him for it.

 

[jetsforever]

The Leafs had a great year this year so it would have been strange to trade him away.

 

[IronHookem]

The fans. If they had just cared a lot less and not set expectations that matched his salary, Marner would've more than likely been re-signed by now. Its a shame that people are passionate about the team and this silly sport.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Leafs learned the hard way 100 point all situation player means nothing if he is a scared little boy deep in every playoff series he has been in.

Also 3 points in 7 games last year without Matthews. Bye Mitch. Go be a regular season superstar elsewhere

 

[eojsmada]

Shanahan...he orchestrated the mess and then when Dubas left for Pittsburgh, he was the only one who was still fully committed to the "core four". Even Treliving changed his tune once Shanahan was gone.

 

[TS Quint]

The blame goes to Marner. If he performed well in the playoffs, the market wouldn't have turned on him, management would have given him whatever he wanted, and thus he wouldn't want to leave.

He is an exceptionally gifted player in an exceptionally brutal market. If he's going to be all about the money (and I don't blame him for that), he needs to perform when it matters.

Now it looks like he's going to leave the team he grew up cheering for. He will go to the highest bidder and will almost certainly have an easier time living up to the contract in a market that doesn't want to crucify him.

It is what it is. I'll miss him, but it was time for both sides to move on.

Matthews and Nylander got everything they wanted, they get to shit the bed in the playoffs and no one is running them out of town. Captain Matthews even gets to blame the depth players for his failures.

 

[The Pale King]

If I was a GM, the only way I'd give out NTCs is if the player signed a two-way deal. Don't want to go to Carolina? Enjoy ripping up the AHL Mitch. Your dad can sit in general seating with the rest of the peasants.

Marner refusing to veto his NTC to go to Carolina and then signing with the Canes in the off-season would be super on-brand for him.

Also I don't pin this on Treliving. He absolutely sucks and should get his name on the Cup this off-season for the Panthers, but this one's not on him, it's on Dubas, Marner, and Shannahan. Oh Bhreandain, laddy...

 

[jj7132]

We don't know what kind of return Dubas would have gotten given. It's a difficult situation given his complete lack of understanding of the sport.

And I’m sure you’re the hockey god & know more about the sport than anyone on earth

 

[JPeeper]

The same dipshit who let Johnny Hockey walk in Calgary.

Treliving deserves more hate in this thread. He's a horrendously awful GM.

 

[Jared Dunn]

Shanahan is the correct answer. Unproven but pretty widely speculated the reason Dubas lost his job was A) trying to undercut Shanahan but B)he wanted to trade Marner before the NMC kicked in. Treliving was basically told upon hiring that his job starts with keeping the Core 4

 

[NinjaKick]

Dubas said he didn't have full control of the team.

This started when Nylander took the Leafs to the woodshed sitting out for his RFA contract. Once that happened Shannahan stepped in and handled the contracts for his boys aka The Shannaplan. Shannahan gave Marner the contract and Shannahan gave the NTC to Marner who had always said he only wants to be in Toronto. Now Leafs fans are shocked that Marner didn't want to leave Toronto. Classic.

it actually started when the Leafs signed Tavares:

https://www.thestar.com/sports/leaf...cle_6e16fae4-45c9-11ef-8c93-4b4f126a4f23.html

“The biggest mistake I think I’ve made in my whole time here has been not taking care of the three incumbent contracts (of Matthews, Marner and Nylander before signing Tavares),” Dubas says in the book. “The thing I learned was that once we signed John to the (deal) we did, it lifted the lid on the entire ceiling.”

who do we believe you? or Kyle Dubas himself?

 

[Hull2Roenick2Kane]

Toronto tried dealing marner for rantanen, but he rejected to waive his NMC at the deadline

 

[RandV]

I mean I don't know the details on it but in general if you're going to 'blame' someone I'd say Mitch Marner.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

There's lots to blame. Some say the fans, others say coaching, a few will say his dad, a handful will say the media, but I think a lot of people will say he's done with the Leafs. Needs a low-stress market.

 

[TS Quint]

it actually started when the Leafs signed Tavares:

https://www.thestar.com/sports/leaf...cle_6e16fae4-45c9-11ef-8c93-4b4f126a4f23.html




who do we believe you? or Kyle Dubas himself?

Thid doesn't take away from what I said. You are only adding to what I said not taking away. Its just more context. Yes, Tavares became the comparable not the league. Thank you.