Frank Seravalli: Paying Mitch Marner Would Be the Maple Leafs' Biggest Mistake

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Chris Gerics
October 1, 2024 (11:01)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have a big decision to make with Mitch Marner once the season ends, and NHL Insider Frank Seravalli thinks paying Marner is the wrong move.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had their Core Four together for a long time now and while they have found regular season success on a consistent basis, their playoff success has been anything but. They've only progressed once past the first round and many fans are getting impatient with the team and wondering what they have to do in order to find that playoff success. Per one NHL Insider, one thing they shouldn't do is spend above their means.

Frank Seravalli, NHL Insider spoke on the DFO Morning Cup of Hockey show on Tuesday said that one of the worst things the Maple Leafs could do is cave in and sign Mitch Marner to a massive contract:

Marner is no doubt going to command a huge salary at season's end and with Toronto still needing to sign John Tavares, who wants to be a Maple Leaf for life; as well as other pieces, it's hard to find room for Marner; especially since the Maple Leafs are already so stacked offensively. The money could be better spent elsewhere, with either a premier center or an elite goaltender and it would be in the Maple Leafs best interest to pursue other avenues as opposed to just trying to keep the same wheels together spinning in place. Names like Igor Shesterkin and Shea Theodore are going to be on the market in 2025, and those names could be a massive boost to the Maple Leafs, more than Marner and a bloated contract would. Not to mention the Maple Leafs needs to worry about re-signing Matthew Knies to a contract extension too

Since Marner has been drafted 4th overall in 2015 he's been nothing short of spectacular for the Maple Leafs, scoring 639 points in 576 games during his career so far with Toronto; he's been a dynamic presence every time he steps on the ice but it really hasn't amounted to much. He feels non-existent in critical matters (Game 7's) and it would be hard to justify paying Marner the $11-12M he is expected to command in free agency when money could be spent elsewhere.

The Maple Leafs have many questions surrounding the future of Mitch Marner, but if they were thinking long-term they wouldn't be shortsighted and overspend for the sake of saving face.