Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has opened up on the team’s offseason priorities.
The Maple Leafs could look much different next season as Mitch Marner is the top free agent available, and it’s expected he will leave in free agency.
With Marner likely leaving, ahead of the NHL Draft, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving spoke to the media about the offseason. Treliving says the priority is likely finding a way to replace Marner if he does leave in free agency.
“We’ll see when we get there. You gotta see what’s available … if Mitch (Marner) is going then everything that he does, right, as well as trying to get better. We look at all positions,” Treliving said.
If Marner does leave, it would create a major void in the Maple Leafs’ offense. But, Treliving says he’s using it as an opportunity to build a different team, even if it takes longer in the offseason to do.
“Lots of challenges, but we try to look at it as use those as opportunities as well. That’s the job. Everybody’s focused on July 1st & I get it. We don’t play on July 2nd,” Treliving added.
Toronto enters the offseason with just over $25.7 million in cap space.
Maple Leafs GM Reveals Marner Will Hit Open Market
Marner will be the top free agent available and will be highly sought after.
However, Toronto has had the past couple of weeks as a chance to negotiate with Marner and keep him from hitting the open market. Yet, Treliving said all signs point to Marner hitting the open market and being a free agent.
“I wouldn’t say a whole lot has changed right now,” Treliving said. “We’ve had communication… Unless there’s a significant change here, I would anticipate he’s going to hit the market & we’ll see where things go.”
Once Marner becomes a free agent on July 1, he has the chance to meet and talk with every team in the NHL. Whether or not he will speak to the Maple Leafs again is to be seen, according to Treliving.
“We’ve had communications on a regular basis, so we’ll see how everything plays out,” Treliving added.
Marner completed his six-year, $65.41 million deal wth Toronto. He’s coming off a career-high 102-point season.
Maple Leafs GM Hinted at Major Changes
Toronto is coming off a disappointing playoff exit, and the Maple Leafs may look much different next season.
After the playoff exit, Treliving hinted at some major changes this offseason and a total DNA change for the Maple Leafs.
“We have to find a way to push through at the most critical moments. And that’s the challenge in front of us. Moving forward, we have a good team. We’ve changed, we’ve changed a lot in the last 12 months,” Treliving said.
“There will be change moving forward, that’s just the nature of the business. We have to continue to change and evolve our mindset and create the team, both between the ears, personnel, to be our very best at the most critical moments,” Treliving added. “There’s some DNA that has to change on our team. If you keep getting to the same result, and that’s not to dismiss a lot of the good that (led) up to it, if you keep getting the same result, there’s some DNA that needs to change. That’s on me going forward, and our staff.”
Toronto won the Atlantic Division last season.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Maple Leafs GM Reveals Offseason Priority With Marner Testing Market appeared first on Heavy Sports.