Major Turnaround in Mitch Marner's Contract Talks With Maple Leafs, per David Pagnotta
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs might still have hope yet when it comes to re-signing Mitch Marner according to NHL Insider David Pagnotta.
While there seems to be minimal hope for the Maple Leafs to re-sign Mitch Marner this summer, fans are still hoping there's a potential turnabout face and he'll end up back as part of the Core Four once again.
Mitch Marner still entertaining Maple Leafs during free agency
Reports have stated that's basically an impossibility, and while it all feels like that's a certainty; according to NHL Insider David Pagnotta: Fans should not give up hope just yet.
There are plenty of questions in Toronto, too, especially after GM Brad Treliving met with the media on Thursday.
I was in attendance and understood Treliving's apologetic tone when he offered little insight on multiple subjects since he and his staff haven't fully mapped out their plan.
Do I believe they don't have an idea where they stand with Mitch Marner and John Tavares? Absolutely not. But I get where he is coming from.
An extension for Tavares is much more likely than one with Marner at this point in time.
All indications are Marner is heading to free agency. He hasn't closed the door on a return to Toronto, but he wants to evaluate his options. - David Pagnotta, The Fourth Period
I was in attendance and understood Treliving's apologetic tone when he offered little insight on multiple subjects since he and his staff haven't fully mapped out their plan.
Do I believe they don't have an idea where they stand with Mitch Marner and John Tavares? Absolutely not. But I get where he is coming from.
An extension for Tavares is much more likely than one with Marner at this point in time.
All indications are Marner is heading to free agency. He hasn't closed the door on a return to Toronto, but he wants to evaluate his options. - David Pagnotta, The Fourth Period
Well that's good news, but would it make sense for Toronto to end up bringing him back?
Mitch Marner doesn't change Toronto's DNA
For all the talk about Brad Treliving wanting to change the DNA of the Maple Leafs, running it back doesn't really make any sense. Marner is as vital to the team's identity over the last decade, and bringing him back doesn't solve any issues.
Does he suddenly learn how to be an effective playoff performer? He had a decade to figure it out and never did. He fits into the system, but should he?
Marner has shut down several trades, including to places that he might want to go to; and gave Toronto no chance to move on even if they saw fit.
Between the ego trip, throwing of teammates under the bus, and desire to become one of, if not the most expensive player in the NHL; can fans put up with another half-decade of misery and complaining?
Toronto needs to change their mindset, bringing in players who would work with the team, not ones who try and be the focal point; and some transparency would have saved a lot of the goodwill he had with fans.
That involves adding players like Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Nikolaj Ehlers, or Jamie Benn; faces who normally would look out of place in a Leafs jersey but under a new regime would fit right in.
Which means they need to move on from Mitch Marner, and as much as fans hang on to that glimmer of hope, it's best to move on.
For what it's worth, Marner probably is anyways.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 1 | 1219 ANSWERS Major Turnaround in Mitch Marner's Contract Talks With Maple Leafs, per David Pagnotta Should the Toronto Maple Leafs sign Mitch Marner back? | ||
| Yes | 572 | 46.9 % |
| No | 647 | 53.1 % |
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