OverDrive Panel Sparks Heated Debate on Mitch Marner's Jersey Retirement with Maple Leafs

Marner has been linked out of Toronto this offseason in what has appeared to become an increasingly messy back-and-forth with uncertainty over his future, with some fans fearing he won't be back.

Overdrive discussed the potential of Mitch Marner eventually having his #16 retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs, to unsurprising controversy.

Both rumors and reports have varying degrees of information on where Marner is right now with Toronto, some sources saying he wants to sign and is willing to be flexible, other sources saying the door is closed and both sides are too far apart.

Marner has always been a source of criticism from many Leafs fans who have blasted Marner for a perceived lack of effort and mental fortitude to get the Toronto Maple Leafs to a place where they're a true contender.

The idea of Marner being honored among the legends of Toronto Maple Leafs history has brought animosity from fans who view Marner as unworthy of such an honor, rejecting the idea Marner is among one of the best to put on the Leafs sweater.

Even the most ardent critics of Mitch Marner do not deny he is, and has been, a good player, just one who seems to make it easy to be disliked.

Some of it arguably comes from perception. Marner is considered a soft player lacking much physicality, while analytics view Marner as one of the NHL's top defensive forwards and an effective penalty killer.

Marner also has the question over whether he really wants to be in Toronto. Marner is a boyhood fan who has expressed his desire to remain a Leaf, but is viewed as someone who is one foot out the door for a paycheck.

One account, '2 Mutts Hockey Podcast', reported that Mitch Marner is refusing to re-sign in Toronto. The account, which covers minor league hockey in Alberta, did not reveal where they got said information, but it didn't stop fans anger from growing at the perception that Marner was betraying his hometown club.

What's really known on Marner's future comes down to Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs. It appears Marner is headed to free agency unless Marner gets the deal he's looking for.

A career high in points (102), along with a massive Four Nations Faceoff gave Marner strong favor for a major contract extension, but a disappointing playoffs has made him expendable and a question over how much he's worth.

Marner is not an easy replacement, and the reported adds in his spot such as Brad Marchand, don't match what Marner can do, but provide much-needed grit.

In nine-seasons, Mitch Marner has been one of the most impactful forwards in Toronto Maple Leafs history.

Marner is fifth all-time in Points as a Toronto Maple Leaf with 741, and fourth all-time in Assists with 520.

He's also one of four Leafs to score 100 points in a season, having netted 102 this past season, without Auston Matthews for part of the year. His 75 assists are third behind Doug Gilmour and 1992-93 and 93-94.

Playoff wise, the area in which Marner has been criticized for not showing up, Marner is second all-time in Assists and fifth in points. Since the Leafs last Stanley Cup win in 1967, Marner is fourth in points in 7th in games played, his 63PTS higher than Auston Matthews and William Nylander in both points and points per game.

Marner has more games played, goals, assists, & points in his Leafs career than Doug Gilmour, and more GP, assists, & points than Wendel Clark.

Marner is also a 3x All-Star as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs and a Selke candidate as the league's best defensive forward.

If Mitch Marner chooses not to sign back in Toronto, it could complicate his already uncertain Leafs legacy.

There's already a sizable group of Marner critics in which the very idea of Marner being honored by the Leafs is equivalent to Vince Carter, who famously quit on the Toronto Raptors, although by his retirement the resentment towards Carter had lessened.

Marner has indeed underperformed in the playoffs vs the regular season, and despite his defensive abilities has lacked physicality in big moments.

The contract dispute between Marner and the Leafs, the second time in which contract talks between the two sides have gotten to a difficult point, has made the idea of Marner being loyal to his boyhood club a challenge.

If Marner never plays again for Toronto, is he really as impactful as the Leafs legends in the rafters? The stats may deem him worthy, but has Marner done as much for Toronto as a Clark or Gilmour? He's definitely not going to be the first priority for a jersey retirement over Auston Matthews, who is surely on pace to be honored with no other player wearing #34, but Marner may just be on the borderline of a case.

The stats say yes, Mitch Marner should have his jersey number retired, although the game isn't just based on points.

Again, there is no doubting Mitch Marner is not among the best to play for the Leafs in their legendary history, but when players such as Sittler & Clark were in the league, the expectations were a lot less for what the Leafs were.

Mats Sundin played on some disappointing and unsuccessful Leafs teams that make his lack of a cup understandable. Marner doesn't have as much of an excuse. Of course, on the flip side, those players not winning cups may help Marner's case.

William Nylander will be another borderline case, but if Marner isn't a jersey retirement worth player, neither is Nylander.

The true factor is that Mitch Marner is long from retirement as it currently stands as of now. Depending on right this very moment, Mitch Marner being honored is far from a current worry, and how Leafs fans may feel by the team he does retire could be very different from how people feel now.