NHL Rumor Roundup: Possible Replacements For Leafs' Mitch Marner, Latest On The Red Wings

Speculation persists over whether Mitch Marner will re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs or hit the free-agent market on July 1. 

The two sides have declined to talk about their contract discussions with the media, though it's believed the 27-year-old right winger prefers waiting until the playoffs are over to begin negotiations. 

The NHL trade deadline provided additional intrigue when the Maple Leafs reportedly explored a Marner-for-Mikko Rantanen swap with the Carolina Hurricanes. Leafs management is believed to have told Marner that re-signing him remained their priority, but if he didn't see a future in Toronto, the opportunity was available to go to Carolina. 

Marner declined to waive his no-movement clause, preferring to stay with his hometown club, while the Hurricanes traded Rantanen to the Dallas Stars. Nevertheless, questions linger over his future in Toronto. 

Earlier this week, Jonas Siegel and James Mirtle of The Athletic pondered the Leafs' “Plan B” if Marner departs on July 1. 

They believe it would lead to an immediate promotion of William Nylander to the top line, leaving the Leafs in the market for a second-line right winger. Nikolai Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets and Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks are the notables who could be available through free agency. 

Siegel and Mirtle raised the possibility of the Leafs waiting for next summer. Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg's Kyle Connor are UFA-eligible next July. However, they could be re-signed by their current clubs before then. 

Turning to the Detroit Red Wings, The Athletic's Max Bultman believes GM Steve Yzerman must make bold off-season moves to turn his team into a legitimate playoff contender. 

Such moves can be difficult to pull off. Nevertheless, Bultman pointed out that the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals were fringe teams last season whose audacious off-season deals significantly improved their rosters. 

The Capitals' acquisitions of center Pierre-Luc Dubois, defenseman Jakob Chychrun and goalie Logan Thompson played key roles in their rise to the top of the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Blues' additions of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg via offer sheets propelled them into a Western Conference wild-card spot. 

Bultman thinks Yzerman must add players who can have a more consistent impact, calling for help for scoring forwards Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond and more puck-movers on the blueline. Whether the Wings GM heeds his advice remains to be seen.

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