The Toronto Maple Leafs might be reaching a crossroads with unrestricted free agent winger Mitch Marner, as NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported recently that the star forward is not close to deciding whether he wants to get to free agency. Marner will become an unrestricted free agent and will be free to sign with other teams on July 1, which has led to rumors of potential trades involving the 27-year-old forward.
“Unless there’s something going on that I’m not seeing right now, which is always possible, I don’t sense Mitch Marner is anywhere close to making a decision [about free agency],” Friedman said Monday on Sportsnet 590.
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Marner has scored 16 goals with 55 assists through 54 games this season. The Toronto Maple Leafs winger is reaching the end of a six-year, $65.41 million contract that includes a full no-move clause, giving Marner control to veto any possible deal.
Marner’s status with Toronto was further examined after the Colorado Avalanche traded forward Mikko Rantanen to Carolina after it was reported that Rantanen was seeking upwards of $14 Million per year as an unrestricted free agent. Hockey insider Frank Seravalli reported that Colorado first inquired about Marner before moving on to receiving young star forward Martin Necas from the Hurricanes.
Friedman had also stated on January 30 that Marner did not want to be moved midseason and that contract talks had not gained any traction either. At this point, the Leafs will have to wait and see if they can retain Marner this offseason or risk losing the valuable winger for nothing in free agency unless Marner decides to accept a trade. This is a situation to watch as the trade deadline approaches.
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