TORONTO — Between the TAVARES and NYLANDER stalls crowded with hockey gear inside the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Ford Performance Centre dressing room stood a blank blue nameplate and a cleared-out locker that, for nine seasons, belonged to Mitch Marner.
The MARNER stall had been occupied as recently as draft weekend but packed up and shipped to Las Vegas in a down-to-the-wire trade for Nicolas Roy — the only useful asset Brad Treliving could salvage before watching a 100-point superstar and top-five franchise scorer bolt for the desert.
“When a player of Mitch’s magnitude moves away, that’s never a fun day,” Treliving said Tuesday, as an otherwise quiet opening day to free agency winded down. “But we were able to recoup a player who I think can really help us. And in a situation where a player was walking away this morning for nothing, we were able to recoup a player that fits a need for us.”
As the GM has done at multiple press conferences when discussing the magical winger intent on exploring other options, Treliving essentially took the high road when pressed on the uncomfortable divorce.
He declined to confirm or deny whether the Leafs had offered Marner a contract heftier than $96-million one he has with the Golden Knights. He also declined comment on the suggestion that tampering might have played a role in Marner’s wooing by the Knights.
But Treliving didn’t wax poetically about the player’s legacy as a Leaf, either.
“He’s going to go down as one of the great Leafs, right? The statistics prove it. You know, ultimately, the player has a choice,” Treliving said.
“I don’t think it’s proper to get into personal discussions that I have with players, but certainly we approached Mitch to engage him on a contract. As is his right, Mitch and his representative (Darren Ferris) wanted to wait until the year was done. And as it became clear to us that potential (for an extension) may not be there, we tried to look at alternatives, right?
“Obviously, as his right and was negotiated (with former GM Kyle Dubas), Mitch has a full no-move. So, he controlled the process. But that’s really where we got to here.”
Reading the, um, Tree leaves here: Hey, this isn’t all my fault. I saw this coming and tried both keeping and moving Marner. And I know just as well as the fans do that Nicolas Roy is not quite Mikko Rantanen.
While Marner’s vacant stall might not be Treliving’s fault — our take: given the circumstances, the exec did well to extract Roy, a reasonable $3-million cap hit from Vegas — it is his problem.
And that problem got exacerbated when most of the top-six UFA forwards re-signed with their own teams, specifically Treliving’s top target, Brad Marchand.
On Tuesday, Brock Boeser re-upped in Vancouver, Mikael Granlund signed for three years at $7 million per in Anaheim, and Nikolaj Ehlers sat back and gauged offers that exceed Toronto’s interest in the scoring winger.
“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said. “That’s really where our focus is.”
The only signing Treliving did make on Canada Day was for Toronto-born depth winger Michael Pezzetta, a 27-year-old who fought nine times over his past two seasons in Montreal and will battle for fourth-line duty.
Pezzetta’s price tag is modest: two years at $787,500.
“Gives us some more depth, and he’s got a skill-set in terms of his physicality. Good feet. Speed. Able to get it in on a forecheck. Excellent teammate,” Treliving said. “Those are the boxes he checks. Happy to have him.”
Considering some of the weighty contracts handed out by his peers to depth forwards (Happy Canada Day, Tanner Jeannot!), Treliving has thus far been smart to exercise caution in a weak market.
When was the last time the Leafs had more than $5 million in cap space to spend on July 2?
“We would’ve liked to use that earlier today. But if there’s not the right fit to use it on, we will take the flexibility.”
Instead of shelling out for more bottom-six options, Treliving is choosing patience. He’d rather survey the trade market, target a bona fide top-six forward (probably a winger, only due to the absence of available 2Cs), and make a hard pitch.
Are the Maple Leafs any better today, without Marner, than they were when they lost Game 7 to the Panthers?
Nope.
But they are different, and the puck doesn’t drop for three months.
Treliving is still trying to cook.
Fox’s Fast Five
• Former Maple Leafs Pontus Holmberg (Tampa), Nick Abruzzese (Tampa), Matt Murray (Seattle), and Alex Steeves (Boston) all found new homes.
• Treliving’s scouting report on Stanley Cup champion Roy: “He’s a guy that can match up. One thing he probably doesn’t get enough credit for? There’s some sneaky skill with him; he’s got good hands. He can play in tight. Kills penalties. Gives you a right-shot option in the faceoff circle. Can play against good players, can play with good players. So, there’s versatility to the player.
“We think he can be a real important player for us.”
• Treliving has not closed the door on a Max Pacioretty return but did not touch base with the veteran’s agent, Allan Walsh, Tuesday. The 36-year-old is still weighing all options.
• Treliving said he and Steven Lorentz’s agent had been wrestling with that extension for a while. The GM hinted that he knows three years at $1.35 million is a tad steep for a fourth-liner. Even one who’s a wonderful fit.
“You see where the numbers have gone to today. There’s a little bit of an inflation when you look at the cap increasing,” Treliving said.
“He’s happy here. What’s the old saying? Don’t… something with happy.”
• Matthew Knies says he was never thinking bridge deal. He wanted long term with Toronto, and six years was “the sweet spot” for both sides. He also tried to sign before July 1 to help management’s free agency plans.
