Mitch Marner Faces Backlash After Mikko Rantanen's Game 7 Heroics Goes Viral

All of the talk surrounding Mitch Marner's status as a Maple Leaf beyond the 2024-25 season has been loud and constant since the year even began. A lot of speculation about how much he is going to get and where he may end up in free agency has led to many thinking he's set for a huge payday.

Often compared to other top name free agents, Marner is expected to command a large salary in free agency regardless of who decides to sign him. However, if he wants to be compared to Mikko Rantanen, as he often is, maybe he needs to start producing like him.

With Rantanen's 11-point outburst over three games to help life Dallas past Colorado, he cemented himself not only as a playoff legend down in Texas, but is showing that his extensive contract was worth every penny.

Marner's future contract depended heavily on Rantanen's and with him signing for $12M per season, it means the Leafs star is set to be the highest paid winger. But should he?

Former Maple Leafs defenseman Jay Rosehill was blunt in his observation regarding Marner's future, and basically spelled it out for him: Do what Rantanen did then we'll determine your worth.

It's seemed to irk other fans as well, given that Rantanen put the entire Stars team on his back and decided to eliminate his old team after they gave up on him.

Marner needs to be that type of impact player, and while he has performed well, it's those critical games where he often decides to go invisible. Rantanen on the other hand thrives under the pressure, and Toronto might be kicking themselves for trying not to convince Marner to waive his no-movement clause.

Granted, Marner did have his best season as a Maple Leaf, finally hitting the 100-point plateau (27G, 75A) and has been very good so far this postseason with eight points in six games (1G, 7A) but needs to start scoring more; Rantanen had eight points over his last two.

So he needs to start picking up the pace if he wants to earn more money than Rantanen, and give himself both the most money and best chance to succeed.

But someone will end up paying regardless, the only question is how big will the buyer's remorse be?