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

[VaporTrail]

Maybe no one ?? Maybe that's just hockey ?

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

I mean i'm sure the Leafs thought they can win the cup so they held onto Marner? And you answered your own question, Marner wouldn't waive so there you go.

a) There was a small window where they could trade him before his NMC kicked in. Had I been GM I would have worked the phones 24 hours a day leading up to the window to see what was available.

b) Indeed the Leafs did try to trade him this past deadline and he wouldn't waive. I don't fault him for that, he earned the right but your two statements "the Leafs held onto Marner" and "Marner wouldn't waive" don't really fit together very well.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

At the end of the day, it is a tough call for a playoff team to trade their leading scorer. Plus, he had a NMC

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Have any specific moves in mind?

Not trying to set you up for a gotcha, genuinely curious about your perspective

Just letting Marner walk is a move all on its own. If he's going to command $14M+ as reports state, I'd rather someone else pay it than the Leafs. I bet the Leafs could sign both Bennet and Marchand for that money. Ask yourself who you'd rather have (not that either player would want to come here - just a thought experiment).

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

NMC. Forget if it was active the whole time but regardless, it was constantly Shanny that kept people from trading out someone in the core 4

The NMC only kicked in July 1st. There was an opportunity. I said it as well at the time, if he doesn't agree to an extension, trade him to the highest bidder.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Gaylord, only the team that had his rights for the playoffs can offer the 8th year. And that contract has to be finalized before 7/1, and one UFA eligibility commences only 7 year contract can be offered.

To the OP question, vast majority Shanny.

I should have stayed a sign and trade.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Fans and media. They made him the scape goat for many things, while Matthews for the longest time got a free pass.

Marnier has 14 more pts than Matthews over the last 10 years. While most praised Matthews for his goal scoring, they took the whip to Marnier. It will be interesting to how he does away from Matthews shadow.

 

[Jumptheshark]

BTW. For those commenting on why the Leafs did not trade him prior to his NMC kicking in? Every contender has the same problem. Leafs are in a win now mode and trading him would have been critiqued. Also, who could take his contract and who would have replaced him

 

[zenator]

Nobody. When your goal is to go far in the playoffs, you don't trade away stars for futures, you keep them to the end to try and win. If they traded Marner 1 year ago for picks and prospects, they would have done worse last season.

Look at Florida. They lost Montour. They will probably lose 1 of Ekblad, Bennett, or Marchand. It's the cost of trying to win. Yeah, they won it all, but there are plenty of teams in the same situation that didn't go all the way, but it was worthwhile to try.

Contenders pick up UFAs to be at the trade deadline all the time, and lose them to free agency.

It's just how it goes when you're a contender. You add and keep stars, to load up each year, and worry about the consequences later.