SPDN YouTube: Chris Johnston and Julian McKenzie on the Chris Johnston Show talking about whether Mitch Marner will be back with the Toronto Maple Leafs next season.
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McKenzie: “I don't know if we have talked about this person. I don't know if you know who this person is, but Mitch Marner. Does that name ring a bell?
Johnston: “It's happening, it's happening.
And you know, I don't even know where we are in the public discourse with Mitch Marner. There has been a lot of discussion about him, so I like that I don't know him, I lost track of what was reported.
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Here is what I have to report. Here is what I know to be true, but the situation. The Leafs are not leading Mitch Marner right now. They haven't decided 100% that they should trade and they're going to make life uncomfortable and get inventory. None of this is happening.
I mean, the fact that remains true about Mitch Marner is that he controls the hammer here. So if there is a trade, the Leafs need to work with him. They need to be as quiet as possible, try to line up you know, the teams or the team where they can stay with the return and then they have to go to Mitch Marner and his agent Darren Farris and see if there is a deal that will be done. .
Can Mitch negotiate with that group? Would Mitch consider playing there? You know, could that team trade him as just a player with one year left on his contract? Should there be an extension?
I mean, obviously, it would be a big trade, whatever it is, if it happens, and it's a complicated situation. So where things are right now, as far as I'm concerned, is, it's a little, I mean, quiet around Mitch Marner. There is a lot of speculation. I think there's a frustration with all the public talk about it and looking at the kind of beast that you're a player and the opportunities that are on the table that we're talking about.
But you know, at this point in time, I don't think the Leafs have a deal with him and I don't think they've gone to them and asked them for a list or anything like that. I think, I think you should, it doesn't make sense for the Leafs to fight their player, make this more obvious than it already is.
So I think they will be quiet behind the scenes, see and check if there is a trademark. if they are then take the next step and see if Mitch Marner is willing to consider it.”
McKenzie: “How surprised would you be, and you reserve the right to change your mind at any time about this answer, how surprised would you be if Mitch Marner started next season with the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Johnston: “I wouldn't be too surprised because it seems like he's comfortable playing his free year. I mean, the only reason I can think of is that it would have to happen that he's in a position where he needs to be extended this summer.
You can tell he would have felt comfortable going into that final season and playing. You know, there's, there's, there's an occupational hazard when you do that, right? If you have a serious injury, it may affect your future earnings. Things like that. I mean, in general, NHL players choose as much safety as possible due to the nature of the game they play.
But the fact that Mitch Marner is willing to play this out until next summer and may pursue free agency then, I think that makes it possible for him to remain a member of the Maple Leafs.
It is too soon to announce that it will happen. Of course I don't. But you know, I think they both have to live with the fact that, you know, it's going to be difficult to organize something that satisfies everyone here. That is, the team or city that Mitch is comfortable with. Is it a trade return that makes the Leafs go, 'You know what, while we're in the cup window, we're willing to pull the trigger on this deal.'
And you know, at the end of the day, Mitch himself seems inclined to just always be a Maple Leaf. So I think everyone should look at the possibility, the possibility of him coming back with that team next season.”
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