Mitch Marner’s fate in Toronto sealed ahead of Game 6!

The Maple Leafs are getting ready to take on the Panthers in Florida later tonight in what may very well be the last time fans get to watch star forward Mitch Marner in a Toronto uniform. Chatter immediately started surfacing after the Game 5 debacle in which Marner created a spinning backhand pass turnover which led to the Panthers’ third goal of a 6-1 win.

“I would have told you 3 days ago that it looked good for Marner to re-sign in Toronto.
“When Marner sees the public wildfire tomorrow, I’ll put his odds at .01%,” wrote Pittsburgh Penguins reporter Dan Kingerski on Wednesday night.

On Thursday, NHL insider Chris Johnston wrote in the Athletic that odds are high that Marner tests free agency and signs elsewhere once the season ends.

“There is absolutely zero reason to believe that he’ll be signing another contract in Toronto on or before July 1 – not after refusing to negotiate an in-season extension with the Leafs or even considering a request from management to waive his no-movement clause at the trade deadline,” Johnston wrote. “Everything is lining up for him to walk free.”

Marner, who despite the Maple Leafs’ latest struggles remains the team’s second-leading scorer in the playoffs (12 points) only behind William Nylander (15 points), is expected to become the most coveted player in free agency if he hits the open market in July.

Johnston speculates Marner wants a fresh start with another team out of the shadow of Nylander, Auston Matthews and pending free agent John Tavares, who has better chances to re-sign in Toronto.

“Unless the Leafs can pick themselves up off the mat and win Game 6 on the road in Florida on Friday night, this may be how it ends for Marner in Toronto,” Johnston added.

Marner, who was selected fourth overall by Toronto back in 2015, led the Maple Leafs with a career-high 102 points in 81 games during the regular season and scored 85 or more points in five of his last seven seasons, which include three 90-point seasons and one 100-point season. Despite the amazing stats, it certainly feel like the postseason has sealed his fate and that tonight might be the last time we all see Marner in a Maple Leafs’ uniform.