Mitch Marner’s time with the Toronto Maple Leafs appears to be over.
Marner is set to be a free agent on July 1 after completing his six-year, $65.41 million deal with the Maple Leafs. The star winger will be the top free agent available this summer and will have several teams interested in him.
After the Maple Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs, neither Marner nor Toronto ruled out him coming back next season. However, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that Marner and his camp are not talking to Toronto, despite the Maple Leafs wanting to talk to him about an extension.
“The Maple Leafs have tried to talk to Marner,” Friedman said on 32 Thoughts. “Marner’s camp has not engaged with them. And I think everyone knows the way this is going to be headed, that on July 1st, he’s going to go out there, he’s going to hit the market, he’s going to pick a team, he’s going to set a contract, and he’s not coming back to Toronto. But, it’s Marner, so everything around him is news.”
Friedman’s report comes after NHL insider Andy Strickland reported that Marner will be playing for a new team next season.
Marner recorded 27 goals and 75 assists for 102 points in 81 games last season, which was a career-high.
Insider Believes Marner May Take His Time in Free Agency
Although Marner is the top free agent available, Friedman thinks the star winger may not sign on July 1.
Instead, Friedman believes Marner may take his time by visiting cities and teams and making sure he’s making the right decision for himself and his family.
“It sounds like there’s the possibility, and again, there’s still two-and-a-half weeks to go here, so who knows where this is all going to end up,” Friedman said. “But it sounds like the possibility that exists that this may not be a July 1st thing. That Marner’s choice could be to set up Zoom, or if teams want, in-person meetings on July 1st or after, and then maybe he goes and visits one or two places.”
Friedman claims the Maple Leafs could get a meeting on July 1 with Marner, but isn’t sure there is a point in it.
Marner was selected fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Maple Leafs GM Didn’t Rule Out Re-Signing Marner
After Toronto was eliminated from the playoffs, all signs pointed to Marner walking in free agency.
However, at his year-end press conference, Maple Leafs’ general manager Brad Treliving wasn’t ruling out Marner being brought back.
“I can’t sit here and give you a definitive answer,” Treliving said. “We’ve got to, No. 1, go through the process with Mitch.
“Our staff is in the process now of looking at all different outcomes. But we’ve got to kind of drive what we think is the best outcome. In Mitch’s case, he’s got a say in the matter… I think Mitch is a tremendous player. I think he’s a star.”
But, after the latest reports, it does seem like Marner has played his last game for his hometown team.
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