NHL Rumors: Insider believes Toronto Maple Leafs ready to part ways with $65,408,000 winger

By Ankit Kumar

Modified Jun 10, 2024 19:45 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs are allegedly considering parting ways with star winger Mitch Marner. Insider Frank Seravalli talked about this possibility on the "Daily Faceoff" podcast and mentioned that the Leafs are trying to put Marner "into a corner."

Seravalli said:

"I think the Leafs are going to make a play and they're going to basically back him into a corner over the next three weeks that says, 'Mitch, it's been great, but we're moving on, so whether it's now or eight months from now your time's up.'"

Marner inked a lucrative six-year, $65,408,000 contract with the Maple Leafs in September 2019. The deal carries an annual value (AAV) of $10.9 million, and he has just one year remaining on his deal.

In the 2023-24 NHL season, Marner scored 26 goals and 59 assists for a total of 85 points. But despite that, the Maple Leafs are exploring options to trade Mitch Marner.

The following factors have put Marner's future with the team in jeopardy:

• The Maple Leafs' another first-round exit this year.
• The failure of the Maple Leafs' core four to score during the playoffs.
• The core four control a big chunk of the cap space (nearly $50 million, per The Leafs Nation).

But trading Marner would not be so easy for GM Brad Treliving. Marner's current contract includes a no-move clause, and it is a hurdle in potential trade discussions. While this clause gives Marner leverage, it also complicates matters for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mitch Marner's intention to stay in Toronto Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner struggled to score during the playoffs. He played seven games in round one against the Boston Bruins and scored just three points (one goal and two assists). But despite his performance, after the Leafs' playoff exit, Marner expressed his desire to stay with the Leafs long-term.

“That would be the goal,” Marner said, “I've expressed my love for this place, this city. Obviously, I grew up here. ... I'll start thinking about (a contract extension) now and try to figure something out."

At the NHL combine on June 3, insider Pierre LeBrun quoted Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving's statement on Marner's contract.

“The thing I would say is, be very, very careful of what you read out there,” Treliving said. “Mitch is a hell of a player. He’s going into the last year of his contract... We’ve got to look at every possible way for our team to be better.

Treliving now finds himself under pressure of approaching trade deadlines on June 1.