DENVER — Mitch Marner’s voice quivered Saturday night inside Ball Arena as the biggest post-trade-deadline story in the NHL tried his best to stick to the script and give nothing-to-see-here non-answers to the most pressing questions.
Was he surprised that Brad Treliving asked him to waive the no-move clause he had, in good faith, negotiated with the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ previous general manager?
“I wasn’t focused on it. I had a feeling that maybe something might happen,” Marner said, visibly more emotional than after a regular ol’ loss. He allowed a deep sigh. “But, yeah, I’m here to play hockey with this team, like I said, and I’m focused with this team. And that’s what I can tell you.”
During a post-game scrum that was cut off before it was three minutes old, the impending free agent declined to answer whether he is willing to negotiate a new deal with Treliving before his current one expires on July 1.
Marner was asked point-blank if he envisions himself as a Leaf next season. He said a bunch of words. None of them were yes.
“Like I talked to you guys, man, I’m not gonna get into any of this contact stuff,” Marner replied.
“I’ve been very grateful, and I’ve loved my time being a Leaf. So, I’ll leave it with you guys. And we got 20 games left here that aren’t going to be easy. We got to make sure we just keep our foot down on the gas here and give ourselves the best position to go into playoffs.”
When the Hurricanes engaged in Mikko Rantanen trade talks with the Leafs, they initially asked for Marner in return, according to both Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and The Athletic’s Chris Johnston. The deal was proposed to Marner, and he enacted his right to not move, per the clause in his contract.
Holding all leverage, Marner has chosen to take a ninth run at a Stanley Cup in his hometown.
The Maple Leafs’ preference has been to re-sign their star winger.
Marner had previously stated that his preference has also been to re-sign, but he did not reiterate that Saturday when given the platform.
Marner has reportedly not been interested in serious negotiations on an extension during what is shaping up as the most productive and effective season of his career to date.
Scoring twice — but also committing a tripping penalty that led to Nathan MacKinnon’s third-period power-play winner — in a high-paced 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, Marner is on pace for a career-high 103 points, while playing a prominent role on an improved penalty kill, quarterbacking the power-play, and skating a team-high 21:35 per night.
Post-game, new Leaf Scott Laughton exclaimed that he hadn’t seen such vision and playmaking from a teammate since prime Claude Giroux.
Marner’s confidence and clutch have only spiked since playing a key role in Team Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off victory last month.
Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, has a track record of taking his clients to July 1.
With Dallas taking Rantanen off the board Friday — to the tune of eight years and $96 million — the Leafs’ 2024-25 MVP will undoubtedly become the most coveted UFA on the summer market should he not re-sign before then.
Toronto is at risk of losing Marner for zero return, hence the Rantanen idea.
“Our focus today and the rest of the season is going to be on the season. Mitch has done a real good job of just focusing on the team, on his own play. He’s been terrific. Look at the year Mitch has had. He’s driven the group on many nights, especially in chunks of the season earlier on when Auston (Matthews) was out,” Treliving told Real Kyper & Bourne after the trade deadline passed without any shift in Marner’s contract status.
“We’ll continue to try to do business as quietly and behind the scenes and try to not make too much noise here in Toronto. And worry about the games. And when it’s time to worry about those things, we’ll get them addressed.”
Considering the stakes this season, the noise had been mostly muted.
Now that fans know Marner has elected to delay talks and that management entertained the ultimate what-if blockbuster, the volume is deafening.
Marner, 27, says he has a wonderful support system — parents, wife, Ferris, friends, teammates — and has been able to lean on them during the uncertainty of his future.
Certainly, and importantly for all involved, his play hasn’t suffered one iota because of the unknown.
“We love him in here, and we’re just continuing to do what we do. We don’t listen to any of those things that go on. It’s all part of the game, part of the business,” John Tavares said. “But we love him, and he’s playing great.”
Added coach Craig Berube: “I got no idea about that stuff. That’s all (Treliving). Mitch is playing. He’s here playing for the Leafs. I’m glad he’s here playing for the Leafs.”
The leak of Treliving’s bringing the Hurricanes trade offer to Marner has some wondering if the Maple Leafs have grown so frustrated by the lack of progress that they are OK with a little public pressure on the player. Or that the organization wants fans to at least know it tried to keep Marner or salvage the asset.
If Marner does go the distance here and push for maximum dollars against a suddenly rising salary cap, the suitors will be plenty.
Imagine the Blackhawks seeking a playmaker for Connor Bedard. The Hurricanes circling back for their original target. Jon Cooper walking into Julien BriseBois’s office with an idea. The Canadiens, Sabres, and Red Wings needing a superstar to get them into the dance. The Kraken and Utah Hockey Club wanting to engage their new markets. The Golden Knights doing more Golden Knights things.
In 2016, Steven Stamkos re-signed for eight years with the Lightning on June 29. Just last summer, Sam Reinhart did the same in Florida on July 1. Taking it down to the wire doesn’t always mean breaking free.
Two things can be true: Marner can want top dollar and want to be a Maple Leaf. That’s fair. That’s his right.
In less than four months, though, we’re about to find out which he wants more.
Fox’s Fast Five
• Berube started his shiny new third-line centre Scott Laughton between Max Domi and Bobby McMann. Expect experimentation down the stretch, though, as Laughton can also play wing.
“You got a passer with Max, you got McMann with speed and heaviness, and Laughton’s an up-and-down centreman,” Berube said. “He does a good job in the middle of the ice.”
Calle Järnkrok was the odd forward out after just two appearances. The Leafs have not won since his return to health.
It was a tough start for Laughton getting thrown in the fire here. He finished a minus-two without a shot on net but immediately vowed to be better.
• Laughton, an Oakville, Ont., native, is a boyhood Leafs fan who got emotional over the move. He’s coming to fetch pucks, not shy away from scrums, and inject some wholesome passion.
“I just thought about my dad being able to drive down to my games,” Laughton says, after 12 years with the Flyers. “That’s a pretty cool feeling.”
• Brandon Carlo is jacked to be skating alongside Morgan Rielly, and the duo should get plenty of run to form chemistry.
Righty Carlo — big, strong, stays at home, avoids risk — fits the profile of Rielly’s ideal partner.
“Playing against him, I love his playmaking ability,” the former Bruin says. “He’s a guy that I would watch on the bench, try and learn things from, just the way he’s pursuing pucks, going back in the D-zone, the way he’s able to move it, and then just his offensive capability to facilitate a lot of things along the blueline there. The way he can move is pretty impressive.
“There’s a lot to be learned from him, and I hope we can create a good partnership.”
• My goodness, the Avalanche offence looks frightening.
Colorado is a fantastic passing team that attacks with purpose and pace. They had the Leafs on their heels for the bulk of the night and were full marks on the win.
• Huge roars for fan favourite Erik Johnson when his image popped on the Ball Arena jumbotron.
“I’m willing to do anything here. Play five, 10, 15 minutes. Whatever you need from me, I’ll do it,” the returning defenceman said. “If you want me to shovel snow in between whistles, I’ll do that too.”
Hard to argue against the 36-year-old’s sentimental trade back to the club he spent 13 of his 17 seasons with, even if Johnson now slots as the seventh or eighth defenceman.
“I didn’t go to sleep last night,” he says, “because I thought I’d wake up and it wouldn’t be true.”
