After another disappointing Toronto Maple Leafs playoff loss, it's time to break up the core four forwards and that might mean moving on from Mitch Marner, who becomes a free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season. If you're expecting the Maple Leafs to trade Mitch Marner this summer, it's possible that doesn't happen. According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5538366/2024/06/03/nhl-rumblings-oilers-panthers-marner-guentzel/], the 27-year-old — eligible to sign an extension with Toronto on July 1 — is electing to see what lies ahead rather than attempting to get a deal done this offseason. His camp also isn't putting together a trade list. "As I wrote a few weeks ago, the Marner camp, led by agent Darren Ferris isn’t putting together a list of teams for a potential trade. The focus for Marner, who has a full no-move clause, is on honoring the remaining year of his contract and seeing where things go from there," LeBrun wrote. "That also means I don’t think there’s an appetite to talk extension come July 1. The preference from the Marner camp is to start the season and see how things go. Perhaps there are talks on an extension eventually, but I don’t believe there’s a strong desire to get into them this summer." This comes amid speculation of what the future holds for Marner. In the aftermath of Toronto being eliminated by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs, it seemed like the Maple Leafs trading the forward was more likely than ever. However, in the last week or so, it appears things might have changed. "One of the things a few people have told me is not to be surprised if this plays out over next season with Marner in Toronto," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on 32 Thoughts [https://www.sportsnet.ca/podcasts/32-thoughts/] on Monday. "If the contract demands on both sides are crazy, it’s going to lead to an eventual divorce anyway. I know there are some people saying he’s 100 percent getting traded. On Sunday, June 2, I don't know if I’m so certain of that." Marner's coming off a season where he dealt with a high-ankle sprain which kept him out of Toronto's lineup for nearly a month. He finished the year with 85 points (26 goals, 59 assists) in 69 games. The forward had one goal and two assists in seven games during the first round against Boston. “As I said at the end of the year, we're going to look at everything. We've got some really good players and we don't want to lose sight of that," Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said in Craig Berube's introduction as Toronto's new head coach when asked about players entering free agency or the final years of their contract. "But I'll sit down and we'll start to dig into all the other areas, roster construction and all those types of things and we've got a busy summer ahead.” Toronto's captain John Tavares, similar to Marner, is also eligible to sign an extension on July 1. His production slowed a bit this year — scoring 65 points (29 goals, 36 assists) in 80 games — but he's not interested in being involved in a trade which could allow the Maple Leafs to shave off his $11 million cap hit. "Speaking of the Leafs, there’s been no conversation between them and John Tavares’ camp, led by agent Pat Brisson," LeBrun reports. "But either way, should the Leafs ever ask, Tavares — a 2025 UFA with a full no-move clause — doesn’t want to waive to go anywhere." Although his point production has taken a dip, the 33-year-old center has shown — during the playoffs and with Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships this spring — that he remains a strong two-way player who brings value to Toronto's lineup. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Report: Maple Leafs Express Interest in Joel Edmundson's Return as NHL Free Agency Looms, No Talks Yet with Ilya Lyubushkin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-maple-leafs-express-interest-in-joel-edmundsons-return-as-nhl-free-agency-looms-no-talks-yet-with-ilya-lyubushkin] 'This Is Such A Delicate Conversation Between Player And Team': Mitch Marner's Future With the Maple Leafs May Play Out As Both Sides Reportedly Navigate Current Status [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/this-is-such-a-delicate-conversation-between-player-and-team-mitch-marners-future-with-the-maple-leafs-may-play-out-as-both-sides-reportedly-navigate-current-status] Reports: Lane Lambert Could Be Joining Craig Berube's Coaching Staff as Maple Leafs Bench Takes Shape [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/reports-lane-lambert-could-be-joining-craig-berubes-coaching-staff-as-maple-leafs-bench-takes-shape] News from THN.com 'You Don't Have to Be a Die-Hard Hockey Fan to Appreciate Connor McDavid' — Why U.S. Sports Fans Are Cheering for the Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/news/you-dont-have-to-be-a-die-hard-hockey-fan-to-appreciate-connor-mcdavid-why-u-s-sports-fans-are-cheering-for-the-oilers] Carolina's Martin Necas On the Move? Three Potential NHL Landing Spots [https://thehockeynews.com/news/carolinas-martin-necas-on-the-move-three-potential-nhl-landing-spots] Rangers and Panthers Have Brick Walls in Net, But Who Has the Edge Right Now? [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-playoffs-rangers-and-panthers-have-brick-walls-in-net-but-who-has-the-edge-right-now]
