Crazy Suggestion From a Former Leafs Player Regarding Mitch Marner Is Already Upsetting Fans
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
One former Maple Leafs player has asked a very important question regarding Mitch Marner, and if the answer is "yes", there will be a lot of angry fans in Toronto.
All eyes are on pending Toronto Maple Leafs UFA forward Mitch Marner, who is most likely going to be playing elsewhere next season.
Marner recently completed his current contract with an AAV (average annual value) of $10.903 million and is set to cash in on the open market, and there will no shortage of teams for him to choose from when it comes to the next phase of his career.
While doing a live segment at the RBC Canadian Open, TSN hosts Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill, and Jamie McLennan talked about Marner's future with the Leafs and speculated what the aftermath could look like if he signs elsewhere.
Hayes began by saying that despite the lack of playoff success, Marner is one of the all-time great players in team history..
"What I'm curious about is what the aftermath looks and sounds like if that happens. If he signs somewhere else, let's say he goes to Anaheim on July 1, does he play the game, do other people play the game on what happened, why he left -- does it matter at that point?
Again, the reality is, this guy is one of the all-time great Leafs. That's what he is. Yes, in big games, he hasn't been great, and he's not alone. Yes, they never ultimately won, but the stats, the performance, 9 years is an eternity in pro sports. He was drafted and developed in Toronto, he loves the Leafs.
There is a point down the road where I would think the reputation is going to try and be molded back into a positive light."
Again, the reality is, this guy is one of the all-time great Leafs. That's what he is. Yes, in big games, he hasn't been great, and he's not alone. Yes, they never ultimately won, but the stats, the performance, 9 years is an eternity in pro sports. He was drafted and developed in Toronto, he loves the Leafs.
There is a point down the road where I would think the reputation is going to try and be molded back into a positive light."
This led O'Neill to ask if the Leafs could consider retiring Marner's No. 16 sweater, despite Marner having never played beyond the 2nd round of the post-season.
"Let me ask you this - if he does choose to go and play somewhere else, what happens... Like, does his number get retired?"
Marner is 5th all-time in Leafs history with 741 points (221G, 520A). While a return to Toronto isn't impossible, it's not likely at this point.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 7 | 6047 ANSWERS Crazy Suggestion From a Former Leafs Player Regarding Mitch Marner Is Already Upsetting Fans Is there a chance that the Maple Leafs actually retire Mitch Marner's No. 16 even if he leaves in free agency? | ||
| Yes | 956 | 15.8 % |
| No | 5091 | 84.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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