As Mitch Marner said goodbye to his Maple Leafs teammates Tuesday, no one really knew if it was for the summer, or for much longer.
Not even Marner.
鈥淚 was hoping to be playing hockey again tonight and that’s not the outcome,鈥 Marner said hours before the puck dropped on the Eastern Conference final between Carolina and Florida. 鈥淚 haven’t thought of anything. I’m going to sit down with my wife and try to figure out what the next steps are.鈥
Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner and his teammates met the media following their playoff exit. The star forward, who has been a lightning rod for criticism durning his 海角社区官网tenure for a string of post-season failures, can become an unrestricted free agent July. Leafs centre John Tavares, meanwhile, said he's 鈥渧ery optimistic鈥 on his own return after speaking with management. (May 20, 2025 / The Canadian Press)
Marner was the Leafs’ top scorer this season, surpassing 100 points for the first time. He’s one of the greatest players in team history, fifth all time with 741 points. And he is a pending free agent and looking, perhaps, at a contract that could make him the NHL’s highest-paid player.
Heartbroken fans will be back no matter what the Leafs do.聽But the burden on Marner has become
Asked if he thinks he’ll be a Leaf next season, he responded: 鈥淎lways loved my time here. I’ve loved being here. Been so grateful. I haven’t processed anything. It’s still so fresh. Losing sucks.鈥
The losing was in reference to Sunday’s Game 7 loss, a 6-1 shellacking at the hands of Florida that had the team’s fans booing their heroes. The Leafs have reached the second round just twice in nine straight playoff seasons, losing to the Panthers both times.
鈥淪addened. Devastated. There’s no words for me to put to it,” Marner said. “It’s hard. It’s gets harder.”
Serious teams don鈥檛 watch themselves get devoured like the Leafs did in Game 7 against the Panthers.
John Tavares was more affirmative about his hopes. He wishes to remain with the Leafs. But now he’s in the awkward position of hoping his favourite team as a child, and the one that lured him away from the New York Islanders seven years ago with a $77-million (U.S.) deal, wants him back.
鈥淢y contract is done,鈥 Tavares said. 鈥淚’ve had positive conversations with (GM Brad Treliving) and (coach Craig Berube) and I’m very optimistic we can work out something for me to be back.鈥
Playing for the Leafs has been a childhood dream come true for both Marner, who is from Thornhill, and Tavares, from Oakville. Tavares even posted a photo to social media of himself as a child, sleeping in Leafs bedding, when he first signed with the Leafs
As the Leafs enter another long off-season, any change at the top would likely set the course
Money isn’t really the issue for the team or the players. The Leafs have somewhere along the lines of $26 million in cap space, with only a handful of roster spots to fill. It’s believed they’ve already offered Marner close to $13 million a year, while Tavares seems resigned to the notion of taking a pay cut, down to about $6 million a year. That should leave plenty for Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg, the team’s restricted free agents.
In Marner’s case, he might be ready to get away from a crazy market that lets its displeasure known. The Leafs worked with a network to have a social media post removed after a responder to a reporter’s post included ways to reach Marner. He has a newborn and wife to think about.
鈥淚t’s tough on them,鈥 Marner said. 鈥淢y wife and I have done such a good job over the last couple years in not focusing on (the negative). There’s so much love and appreciation from the fans. You know you’ve got the love of a lot of people.
鈥淪ometimes the noise you hear is not what you want. I’m sure my family has taken that hard, especially being in the crowd for a couple (of games). But that’s how this game of hockey goes. The passion the city brings us is something that you appreciate and love about it.鈥
Marner wears the pressure on his sleeves. though, and might be better off elsewhere. That would mean a change in direction for the team, which has been centred on the Core Four of Marner, Tavares, Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
Only management can address that, and neither Treliving nor president Brendan Shanahan were part of Tuesday’s media scrums. But their teammates hope both Marner and Tavares are back.
鈥淗e’s the first person I think of when I see that logo,鈥 Knies said of Tavares. 鈥淗e took me in and I stayed with him for parts of my first season. The most welcoming guy. He’s been tremendous. It would be challenging to walk into this room without him.鈥
Matthews and Marner were rookies together.
鈥淗e’s a brother,鈥 Matthews said. 鈥淗e’s such a good teammate, friend. We’re extremely close. He’s extremely close with a lot of guys on the team. He’s a big part of our team and has been a big part of our team.
鈥淯nfortunately, that’s the nature of the business. People come and go. He has the right to make his own decision. But obviously we all love him very much. He’s an amazing person, an amazing teammate.鈥
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