DENVER – Mitch Marner addressed reports the Toronto Maple Leafs asked the star winger to waive his no-movement clause and accept a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes, indicating he wasn’t surprised and that he “had a feeling something might happen.”
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported on Saturday that the Leafs “expressed interest in getting down to business on a contract extension in recent months, but the Marner camp was unwilling to engage during the season, according to league sources.”
Ahead of the trade deadline, both teams entertained the possibility of swapping Marner for forward Mikko Rantanen. The Leafs approached Marner about waiving his no-movement clause, but he declined. This came after the Leafs first told Marner they wanted him to sign an extension.
Marner is in the final year of a six-year contract with a $10.903-million AAV.
“I’m here to play hockey with this team,” Marner said after the Leafs’ 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. “That’s what I can tell you. I want to be with this team. I want to play with this team.”
Marner faced multiple questions on the report and grew emotional as the questions continued.
Marner, 27, declined to answer when asked if he would be willing to negotiate a new contract in-season.
“Like I talked to you guys about at the start of the year, I’m not going to get into this. I’m here to play hockey. I’ll let that happen with my agent and the team,” Marner said.
Does Marner envision himself as a Leaf next season? He did not answer directly.
“I’m not going to get into any of this contract stuff. I’ve been very grateful, and I’ve loved my time being a Leaf. So that’s what I’ll leave with you guys. We’ve got 20 games left here that aren’t going to be easy.”
Asked if it meant anything to him that Leafs management was eager to get Marner to agree to a new contract, Marner answered, “Sure, yeah. Like I just said, I’m just here to do my thing on that ice, try to help this team win games, and do the best I can out there. That’s where my mind’s at. It’s not off-ice. It’s not on anything else.”
Should Marner make it to free agency on July 1, he promises to be the best available player on the market. Playing the final season of his contract comes with uncertainty. Marner said he’s leaned on his “great support staff” to manage it.
“I’ve got a great group of guys in this room, as well, that I can lean on. But off the ice, I got a great support staff that I can lean into a lot, talk to a lot. It’s hockey. I just go out there and do my thing,” Marner said.
Marner put on a show in the loss, scoring two goals while looking effective defensively. It was Marner’s second multi-goal game in his last six contests and his 26th multi-point game this season.
The Leafs needed Marner to be at his best. They were heavily outshot and outplayed by the Avalanche.
Marner sits tied for fifth in the NHL in scoring, with 79 points in 62 games.
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(Photo: Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Images)
