{"id":426915,"date":"2026-01-23T00:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T00:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/426915\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T00:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T00:00:13","slug":"where-did-it-go-wrong-for-mitch-marner-and-the-maple-leafs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/426915\/","title":{"rendered":"Where did it go wrong for Mitch Marner and the Maple Leafs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was 2015 NHL Draft preparation. There were four names at the top of Toronto\u2019s board: Noah Hanifin, Mitch Marner<\/a>, Ivan Provorov and Dylan Strome.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t bother discussing Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel,\u201d one former staffer said, laughing. \u201cWe knew we weren\u2019t getting them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strome went third, to Arizona.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Maple Leaf diehards know this lore. Passionate arguments were made for a defenceman, with Hanifin ahead of Provorov. But Mark Hunter, who ran the draft and had final say, refused to back down. He knew Marner better than anyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I remember,\u201d another former Leaf staffer said this week, \u201cwas how thrilled his entire family was that he\u2019d been selected by Toronto. It was a dream come true for them. And, every time we saw him the next few months, development camp, rookie camp, etc., that smile never left his face.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were so down at that time. We badly needed that enthusiasm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marner makes his Toronto return on Friday night (7 p.m. ET\/ 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+), in what is going to be an emotionally charged evening. I\u2019m honestly not sure what to expect. I\u2019ve said it before and I\u2019ll say it again: Marner should have been remembered as the greatest Toronto-born Maple Leaf of all time, and, at some point, everyone\u2019s going to admit their regrets it didn\u2019t happen. He\u2019s a great player and Vegas is much better with him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But, over nine seasons, the smile faded and the relationship fractured, leading to a divorce with hard feelings from player, organization and fans. How did we get there?<\/p>\n

After being drafted, Marner was sent back to OHL London. Those Knights were loaded, the talented winger winning the Memorial Cup alongside Christian Dvorak and Matthew Tkachuk, adding tournament MVP to his growing resume.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 2016-17, he joined No. 1 overall draft pick Auston Matthews<\/a> and William Nylander<\/a> as the franchise\u2019s young cornerstones. Again, several Maple Leafs players and staffers who were there talked about the enthusiasm, the positive energy around him. Marner loved hockey, and it showed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One thing became very clear: if someone praised him for something he did well, Marner would be incredibly thankful \u2014 especially if it wasn\u2019t obvious. There would be small plays or moments many of us might not notice, but he thought they were important. It meant a lot to him that someone would say something. He\u2019d light up. He wanted to matter, to feel he made a difference.<\/p>\n

One Leaf remembered Game 1 of the 2019 first-round series against Boston, where Marner scored twice, including a short-handed penalty shot, and was the best player overall. Teammate after teammate found him post-game to tell him what a beast he was.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was beaming,\u201d one said. \u201cSo proud.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toronto led that series 3-2, but couldn\u2019t close, falling to the Bruins in seven. Marner\u2019s entry-level contract expired that summer and it was time for a new one. Months earlier, Matthews signed a five-year extension at an $11.634 million cap hit, and it became apparent there were two issues some in Marner\u2019s airspace couldn\u2019t forget.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When Marner signed his entry-level contract, he did not get the full bonuses. Some have attributed this to Lou Lamoriello, who wouldn\u2019t allow them. Others disputed that, pointing out Lamoriello was hired five days before Marner signed, with the process far along. Toronto indicated it would be a cap team; declining bonuses would give flexibility. Twelve months later, Matthews got the full package on his entry-level deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Maple Leafs were exasperated this was a thing years after it happened. They felt it wasn\u2019t a ton of money (relatively speaking) and Marner would be extremely well compensated in the aftermath. Incredibly, in 2024-25, it remained an occasional talking point.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Second was that Marner never got a chance to play in the NHL as an 18-year-old. The Leafs argued it turned out to be the correct call. Sometimes they wondered if any of this even mattered to him, personally.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Regardless, the reality is that the organization recognized any slight \u2014 no matter how small \u2014 had lasting consequences.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After a tense and public negotiation, Marner and the Maple Leafs agreed to a six-year, $65.41 million extension as training camp began in September 2019. Many of you reading this are aware of the public ups and downs, so Iet\u2019s look at what happened behind the scenes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marner became even more hypersensitive to what was being said about him after getting that new contract. He read too much social media. He\u2019d check replies to his posts, search out reaction to his play. Players and staff worked with him to ease up, or delete apps from his phone. There was also the problem that, as a Torontonian, he was surrounded by family and friends who would text him or tell him what was said about him. (There is zero doubt this is a major reason Marner chose to go to the Western Conference.)<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a disaster. Whenever I\u2019m asked, I always tell families: don\u2019t tell your kids what is said about them, and don’t let anyone else in your circle do it, either. For one thing: your kids have enough pressure. For another: you always make it sound worse than it really is.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Anyway, as Toronto endured playoff disappointment, many felt Marner was crushed and affected on-ice by what he read.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe played better than what was said about him (online),\u201d one ex-Leaf said. \u201cBut you couldn\u2019t convince him of that. He\u2019d believe what some troll wrote on Twitter or what someone said in the media over what we were telling him.\u201d<\/p>\n

That also affected how coaches would talk to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.<\/p>\n

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A pattern emerged: when things were good, Marner was a major reason, enormously effective and many times the best player. At the same time, he was the music-master, the party-planner, inclusive and generous, flashing that great smile. When things were bad, no one sunk lower emotionally, no one was harder to pull out of a funk.<\/p>\n

A perfect example was the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. Toronto finally broke its first-round curse with a cathartic 2-1 Game 6 John Tavares overtime winner against Tampa Bay. Marner had a phenomenal series with 11 points in the first five games. Thirteen days later, they were gone, eliminated in five by Florida. He had three points. He wasn\u2019t the only Leaf who struggled, but, as usual, he wore it most.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That was a chaotic off-season. Brendan Shanahan fired Kyle Dubas on May 23, hiring Brad Treliving eight days later. The Maple Leafs had 31 days before Marner\u2019s no-move clause activated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That summer, on Aug. 23, Matthews signed a four-year extension 10 months before hitting unrestricted free agency. There is a story behind this no one knew. According to several sources, the groundwork for that contract was actually laid in the summer of 2022. Two years before he could leave, one year before he could even sign, the Maple Leafs wanted to know if there was any reason to worry. After conversations about the state of the franchise and how everyone envisioned the future, Matthews told the Leafs he would re-sign as long as the train didn\u2019t suffer a Fugitive-like crash \u2014 a promise he kept.<\/p>\n

Two years before Marner could exit, there were conversations, but the Maple Leafs did not receive the same assurances. There was internal discussion about trading him, but as Shanahan has said many times, he was determined to bet on talent. He believed, like his mid-90s Red Wings, the Maple Leafs would figure it out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Whenever the time came, everyone knew this was going to be another brutal negotiation. But the choice was to let the no-move kick-in.<\/p>\n

Nylander extended on Jan. 8, 2024 \u2014 an eight-year, $92 million contract. Marner celebrated along with everyone else. He was genuinely happy for his teammate. The Maple Leafs planned a future where Marner would slot in somewhere between Nylander ($11.5 million per season) and Matthews ($13.25 million).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Then came the nightmarish 2024 first-round loss to Boston, won on David Pastrnak\u2019s Game 7 overtime goal. Nylander missed three games with migraines, Matthews two due to illness. Joseph Woll was injured right at the end of a Game 6 win, knocking him out for the decider. Marner, who returned right before the playoffs after missing a month with a high-ankle sprain, played all seven, finishing with three points. He was not himself, and took enormous criticism (alongside everyone else) for the defeat.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Several people I spoke to for this story wondered if, with 20\/20 hindsight, that was when Marner seriously started thinking about leaving. The criticism he took after this series really hurt. There were complaints the Maple Leafs did not defend him enough in the face of injury, although GM Brad Treliving did mention days later that Marner was playing through several things. (Treliving would not comment for this story.)<\/p>\n

Toronto did investigate trade options. Carolina offered Martin Necas, but the Maple Leafs did not think Marner would waive for the Hurricanes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There were discussions with Vegas, who did not want to part with Shea Theodore<\/a>. Alex Pietrangelo\u2019s name came up, but the Maple Leafs decided not to pursue him because of the health concerns that sadly shortened his career. (I don\u2019t believe he was ever asked to consider it.)<\/p>\n

What did happen was the Leafs began to believe Vegas was Marner\u2019s choice if he didn\u2019t stay. They thought they would never get what they considered a fair offer from the Golden Knights, because Vegas believed if he left Toronto, they\u2019d get him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No one has ever confirmed this, but I believe the Maple Leafs brought up the idea of an eight-year, $96 million extension. But no agreement ever came close, and negotiations faded. While researching this story, a few people asked why Toronto didn\u2019t do a Steven Stamkos-style pitch to him, lay it on thick to convince Marner he was wanted. Throughout last season, the Maple Leafs bristled at the idea they ever created the impression they didn\u2019t want him. They get very angry at the idea, and feel they defended him plenty. But a fatigue and weariness set in between the two sides, and any conversations were strained.<\/p>\n

Veterans both on the ice and off said Marner didn\u2019t act any differently. Not everyone handles uncertainty the same, but the stress of not knowing where their next NHL home will be can consume players. Didn\u2019t happen with him.<\/p>\n

In hindsight, a few of them wondered if Marner knew his time was over, something he has forcefully denied.<\/p>\n

En route to a career-high 102 points, Marner also played the game of his life with the tying and winning assists in the 4 Nations Final. It was a massive performance on a gigantic stage, and he was ecstatic upon returning to Toronto. He talked about Sidney Crosby<\/a> always keeping things positive on the bench. No matter what, Crosby said, keep calm and everything would work out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He was also excited to become a father, his wife pregnant with their first child.<\/p>\n

As the NHL returned following Canada\u2019s thrilling victory, another storyline developed 1,200 km south of Toronto. The Hurricanes, long a Marner admirer, had traded for UFA-to-be Mikko Rantanen<\/a>, and he wasn\u2019t going to re-sign. Carolina was ready to pivot.<\/p>\n

According to several sources, the Maple Leafs were told sometime before the New Year by Marner\u2019s agent, Darren Ferris, that the winger might consider a trade to a Western Conference contender. (Ferris did not agree to be interviewed for this story.) No specific team and it was not a demand, but the message was received.<\/p>\n

According to the globe in my office, Carolina is not in the west. But, with indications Rantanen would sign in Toronto, the Maple Leafs needed clarity. If Marner wished to stay, they\u2019d work it out. If not, this was the best option \u2014 by far \u2014 to replace him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

They wanted to act, one way or the other. There wasn\u2019t a lot of time to decide. One conversation came after a game, and teammates, not sure what was going on, said they saw him flustered and upset. Ultimately, Marner said no to that trade.<\/p>\n

Toronto came up with another idea. Suspecting his interest in Vegas, the Leafs tried a three-way with the Golden Knights and Hurricanes. There just wasn\u2019t a match. About eight hours before the trade deadline, they were told Rantanen wouldn\u2019t be coming north.<\/p>\n

Twenty-four hours later, the story broke. Teammates had two reactions. First: \u201cOh God, we thought the trade deadline meant all of this was over.\u201d And, second: \u201cWait, there are no ongoing negotiations? No contract is being discussed, at all?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was then that other players realized the true circumstances.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We know how this played out. Toronto beat Ottawa, then lost a soul-crushing home-ice Game 7 to Florida. No matter what anyone says, you cannot convince me that if the Maple Leafs beat the Panthers \u2014 as they could, and probably should, have done \u2014 this wouldn\u2019t have worked out. Somehow.<\/p>\n

But we\u2019ll never know.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Right after elimination, both Marner and John Tavares were asked if they wanted to stay. Luke Fox, Sportsnet\u2019s dogged Leaf reporter, tweeted Tavares made it clear he did, while Marner was non-committal. In the replies, someone posted Marner\u2019s home address.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fox received an urgent call from the Maple Leafs, asking if the reply could be removed, so he deleted the tweet. At their next availability \u2014 the last of the season \u2014 Marner thanked him.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s been debate about how much of a factor that was. I\u2019ll say the same thing I said about the Linus Ullmark<\/a> rumours: as a public figure in the social-media age, you sign up for some of this stupidity. Your family doesn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be naive about the effect this can have.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That post wasn\u2019t the cause, there was a lot beforehand. But I do believe it was the end. \u00a0<\/p>\n

As we headed into draft weekend, the Leafs and Golden Knights worked out the Marner trade, which was announced days later. Marner\u2019s been very good for them, moving to centre when injuries created a need. After a very rough start, the Leafs pulled themselves off the mat, climbing back into playoff contention.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vegas won the first meeting last week, a spirited comeback leading to overtime victory. But this is the big one, the return to Toronto.<\/p>\n

How will the crowd react?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It was 2015 NHL Draft preparation. There were four names at the top of Toronto\u2019s board: Noah Hanifin,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":153831,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[433],"tags":[49,48,448,82],"class_list":["post-426915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nhl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=426915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426915\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153831"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=426915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=426915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=426915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}