Marner and Tavares like that Treliving threw his support for the returning players while applauding the new additions.
Marner and Tavares like that Treliving threw his support for the returning players while applauding the new additions.
There was some uncertainty around the core players when the Toronto Maple Leafs dismissed Kyle Dubas from the GM position and replaced him with Brad Treliving. But as the spring turned into the summer, the 53-year-old executive put his stamp on the club with the addition of some newcomers that bring a little bit of "snot, piss and vinegar".
Of the 10 unrestricted free agents the Maple Leafs had going into July, Treliving retained one of them. David Kampf signed a four-year, $9.6 million contract to stay with the Maple Leafs. When free agency opened, Treliving signed Ryan Reaves, John Klingberg, Max Domi, and Tyler Bertuzzi. All four players bring something a little bit different that should change the look and feel of the club.
For Mitch Marner, just knowing that Treliving was committed to helping support their most skilled players was reassuring,
“Something that we’ve talked about a lot is just how Brad came in and defended us all, really, and our team," Marner said at his Marner Assist Foundation gala on Thursday. “It meant a lot to all of us to come in and do that. It’s not just four guys on our team. It’s a full team effort every single night. That’s really what we really know. I mean, that’s not the narrative a lot of times, but we know we all gotta be better. And that’s why we’re excited to get the season going.”
When Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan pulled the trigger on moving on from Dubas on May 19, he was insistent that he didn't expect much of the indenity of the club to change. And while players come and go every season, the core (as of this writing) has stayed in tact.
“Tre came in just very level-headed," Tavares said. "I think a tremendous approach and communicated very well to everyone that’s here that he just wants to continue to help push us forward and believes that the group is really strong.”
Treliving still has quite the busy summer. Star forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander have been eligible for contract extensions since July 1 but no deal has been reached yet with either player. The Maple Leafs GM has also expressed a desire to get bigger on defense and hasn't made any chances to that group other than adding Klingberg.
There's also the team's goaltending situation that should get resolved soon. Ilya Samsonov is set to have his arbitration hearing with the Leafs on July 21, unless both sides come to an agreement beforehand.
But as far as Marner and Tavares go, both are committed to Toronto for the next two seasons and both have no-move clauses in their contracts. Treliving's approval from those players isn't mandatory, but it certainly is pragmatic.
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