Mitch Marner will not be with Toronto Maple Leafs next season, according to Andy Strickland. There were some who were thinking that Marner could return to the Maple Leafs this offseason, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Strickland said that the news of Marner not returning to Toronto could open the door for John Tavares to return. The Maple Leafs might get a discount if they go after Tavares, as Tavares has stated he would like to stay in Toronto.
What Does This Mean For the Toronto Maple Leafs?
The Maple Leafs will take a hit with Marner leaving, but they’ll have some cap flexibility with the move. The Leafs need to go in a new direction with their playoff woes. Losing Marner is going to hurt, but it’s necessary to shake up this core. The core that will be separated will be looked back on as a complete failure.
Maybe removing Marner from Toronto’s core will unlock a new level in the Maple Leafs. For the longest time, no one around the league has been able to figure out why the Maple Leafs struggle in the playoffs. The team has gotten better in recent seasons, making it as far as the second round. The second-round exits are not acceptable in Toronto.
Where Could Mitch Marner Sign This Offseason?
Marner will likely want to go to a contender. The Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes seem like two teams that would make sense for him. Vegas is always looking to spend money, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they moved out some contracts to make cap space work to sign Marner. Vegas has moved on from some players who meant a great deal to the organization to sign other impact players. It is winning over personal ties and relationships in Vegas,
Carolina is no sleeper to the big move either. They acquired Mikko Rantanen last season and then traded him soon after. They’re not afraid to make a splash, and Marner would be a perfect addition.
Last Thoughts
The Marner era in Toronto has its ups and downs. Although the playoffs were a disappointment, Marner was very productive for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Toronto Maple Leafs will have to figure out how to replace his production on the ice.
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