Unless anything seriously changes, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner will test free agency on July 1.
Those were the words of Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, who spoke on Thursday afternoon at a pre-NHL Draft media availability in Toronto. Reports have suggested Marner—an unrestricted free agent on July 1—won't return once his six-year, $65.41 million contract runs out.
However, we hadn't heard it officially from either side, until Thursday, when Treliving spoke for the first time since his end-of-season media availability on May 29.
"I wouldn't say a whole lot has changed right now," the Toronto GM said. "We've had communication. I'd probably describe it, unless there's a significant change here, I would anticipate that he's going to hit the market, and we'll see where things go."
One path Treliving can go down with free agency approaching is trading Marner's negotiation rights so that, if a team and the player wanted to, they could get an eighth year on the deal. Would the Maple Leafs GM be willing to go that route?
"We'll see how everything goes," he said, keeping things close to the chest.
Report: Maple Leafs, John Tavares And Matthew Knies Making Progress On Contract Extensions
The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly grinding away with <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/can-matt-duchene-s-extension-offer-clues-for-john-tavares-next-contract-with-the-maple-leafs">John Tavares</a> and <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/what-s-the-ideal-contract-for-matthew-knies-and-the-maple-leafs">Matthew Knies</a>' camps to get contracts signed before July 1.
Does he expect to meet with Marner, either before or after free agency opens?
"We've had communications on a regular basis," Treliving said, "so we'll see how everything plays out."
That sounds like a GM who's confident a player won't be returning to their organization. Either way, the Maple Leafs are losing a key player who led the team in points with 102 (27 goals and 75 assists) in 81 games. Marner was also second on the team in playoff points (two goals and 11 assists in 13 games).
It bodes the question: How do you replace someone like Marner?
Report: Clubs View Vegas Golden Knights As 'Team To Beat' In Mitch Marner Sweepstakes As Maple Leafs Free Agent Hits Market
With the NHL Draft and free agency fast approaching, the league is buzzing with activity, and no name is generating more speculation than Mitch Marner. While teams prepare for the draft, there is widespread debate about where the top free agent will end up.
Treliving says that while there'll be an opportunity to add once the free-agent market opens, there's an entire summer leading up to the beginning of next season to make improvements to the Maple Leafs.
"You're trying to make your team better and the potential is there to lose a really good player, so lots of challenges," Treliving said.
"Everybody's focused on July 1st, and I get it. We don't play on July 2nd, so you use the time starting on July 1st to try to make the team better and that may come on July 1st, it may come August 1st, September 1st, you're not sure.
"So continue to work the market and there's certainly some challenges, [losing] a really good player, and I think I've said this before too, there's not a Mitch Marner tree that you go to and just replace him, so if that indeed happens, we'll continue to look at ways that we can help ourselves."
What's The Ideal Contract For Matthew Knies And The Maple Leafs?
When the Toronto Maple Leafs plucked Matthew Knies out of the second round (57th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft, his potential was unknown.
Although the team is still ironing out the contracts of John Tavares and Matthew Knies, Toronto will have $25.7 million in cap space when July 1 rolls around. Of course, Marner's departure is a massive hole to fill, but it could allow the Maple Leafs to alter their look.
How does Treliving view it?
"Well, I don't know if it's an opportunity when he's leaving. There's cap space available, so that leads us to, how are we going to use that, so those are the things you have to look at."
The NHL's free agency market will officially open for business in five days. Will Tavares and Knies be re-signed by then? Where will Marner end up, and could it be Vegas, the reported frontrunners for his services?
Maple Leafs To Play Minimum 6 Pre-Season Games In 2025 As Schedule Is Revealed
One day after the Detroit Red Wings<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-partial-pre-season-schedule-released-by-red-wings"> shared their pre-season schedule that revealed a pair of games against the Toronto Maple Leafs</a>, the latter revealed their full schedule on Wednesday.
First, we will get through the NHL Draft, an intriguing time for the Maple Leafs. But after Toronto makes its final pick on Saturday, all eyes will shift to what transpires this summer and what improvements Treliving makes going into next season.
Statistics via NHL.com & salary cap information via PuckPedia.com
(Top photo of Mitch Marner: Dan Hamilton / Imagn Images)