With the NHL playoffs on the horizon, the Toronto Maple Leafs and their management have been sidetracked by a major issue that could affect the team this offseason.
Mitch Marner, who has split the fanbase apart over the last couple of seasons is currently in the last year of his six-year $10.9 million contract.Â
Even with Leafs general manager, Brad Treliving making it clear the team would like to continue with the player, Marner and his camp have had no interest in talking about contract negotiations.Â
“Like I told you guys at the start of the year, I’m not going to get into this. I’m here to play hockey and will let my agent and the team handle that,” Marner said when asked about his contract situation.Â
Sportsnet insider, Elliote Friedman had also reported that the Leafs had asked Marner to waive his current no-move clause to potentially acquire Mikko Rantanen in a trade.
This would’ve given the Leafs a backup option if, before the deadline, Marner and his camp made it clear they would not continue with the team past this season.Â
Marner ultimately declined to waive and decided to continue with the team until his contract expires in the offseason.
Fans could be seen on both sides of the spectrum when talking about either keeping or getting rid of Marner, but Losing him for nothing could potentially have a real negative impact on the team.  Â
Marner, who currently is top ten in the league with 85 points in 65 games has been a staple for the Leafs since he entered the NHL in 2016-17.
Marner has not been able to hit the 100-point plateau as of yet but has been close averaging over a point a game, and on the defensive side, he has been at the top of the league for two-way forwards being a finalist for a Selke Trophy in 2023.
Center Mitchell Marner (#16) of the Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs have also struggled without Marner more than any of the other core four members when out of the lineup having a 21-17-5 record all-time.Â
The Leafs Finding replacements to fill all that consistent production will be very tough.
Even with Marner being an irreplaceable style of player, the other side of the argument does have some positives as well.
No one can deny that Marner has been key to the Leafs regular season success, but unfortunately, it stops there as he hasn’t been able to put his game together come playoff time.
Many fans have placed Marner in the forefront when talking about the lack of post-season success and with the amount the player and his camp will want to be paid, it is possible to see a world without Marner for this reason alone.
As Auston Matthews and William Nylander are already locked up long-term, both earning over $11 million, paying Marner around that amount might cause the same issues this Leafs team has already had to deal with in the past.Â
Not being able to construct a proper roster and adding much-needed depth scoring as most money will be going to the top guys making the lineup top-heavy.Â
Toronto might want to change this style of thinking, even with the cap finally taking a big increase this offseason. 
With his already high $10.9 cap hit, the Leafs will be able to spread that money out to bolster other positions on the roster even though this year’s free agency market could be seen as disappointing.Â
Putting this amount of money in four forwards has not yet worked for the blue-and-white but with the playoffs up ahead, Marner will have a chance to change the narrative and cash in big with his hometown team.Â
PHOTO CREDIT – Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com
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