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Mitch Marner Reportedly May Help the Maple Leafs Out to Preserve His Legacy in Toronto
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski Imagn Images
Destined for free agency, Mitch Marner may reportedly leave the Leafs with a parting gift in an attempt to preserve what is left of his legacy in Toronto.
While head coach Craig Berube would like to see the Leafs re-sign John Tavares and Mitch Marner, it is expected that Marner will test the free agent market in the hopes of landing a deal north of a reported $13M-$14M per season.
Currently, Marner's final gift to the Maple Leafs, aside from another disappearing act in Games 5 through 7 against the Florida Panthers, was turning down a trade to Carolina for Mikko Rantanen ahead of the trade deadline, which left many in Leafs Nation disgruntled.
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, who was on TSN 1050's OverDrive on Wednesday, the former first-round pick may give the Leafs a parting gift that is actually worth something.
In discussing potential landing spots for Marner if and when he tests free agency, Dreger noted that the Vegas Golden Knights are a team he believes will take a strong run at the former London Knight.
"That list is short,' said Dreger of potential landing spots for Marner. "Every player, unrestricted free agent wants to go to a low-tax state. So you're looking at the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars.
That's best case scenario. The team I keep coming back to is the Vegas Golden Knights. They obviously have to move out some money. Maybe they do the old sign-and-trade routine.
Maybe Marner is comfortable with that because the Toronto Maple Leafs get something back in return and he's not walking out and leaving them with nothing.
That's best case scenario. The team I keep coming back to is the Vegas Golden Knights. They obviously have to move out some money. Maybe they do the old sign-and-trade routine.
Maybe Marner is comfortable with that because the Toronto Maple Leafs get something back in return and he's not walking out and leaving them with nothing.
It wouldn't be the first sign-and-trade Leafs GM Brad Treliving has made, should Marner agree to one.
While they can be difficult to navigate, the sign-and-trade would allow the Leafs to correct a mistake made by the former regime and recoup significant assets while letting Marner leave on a more positive note with fans.
Regardless of what happens with Marner and the Maple Leafs, it will be a very long six weeks for both sides until a decision is made public on his future.
| POLL | ||
MAI 22 | 9822 ANSWERS Mitch Marner Reportedly May Help the Maple Leafs Out to Preserve His Legacy in Toronto Would you respect Mitch Marner more if he agreed to a sign-and-trade? | ||
| Yes, at least it gives the Leafs something | 6937 | 70.6 % |
| No, my mind is made up | 1442 | 14.7 % |
| It depends on the return | 1443 | 14.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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