Insider Darren Dreger believes Brad Treliving wants to keep Mitch Marner

PUBLICATION

Julien Trekker
June 18, 2024 (10:14)

SHARE THIS STORY

The insider Darren Dreger revealed that he thinks the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving wants to keep Mitch Marner.

A lot of uncertainty about Marner's fate in Toronto emerged as he is set to enter the final year of his $10,903,000 AAV contract, following a rocky year with the Maple Leafs.

In the playoffs, Marner faced a lot of heat for his performances, which led to many rumors.

While Brad Treliving confirmed that he'd evaluate every scenario on the table to make his team better at the start of the 2024-25 season, he didn't confirm what he wanted to do with Marner.

Darren Dreger believes Toronto Maple Leafs' GM Brad Treliving wants to extend Mitch Marner

According to Dreger, Marner, who negotiated his deal in good faith, including his no-movement clause, wants to play out his contract with the Leafs. However, by doing so, he'd place his team in a tough position as he'll be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025.

Later, he shared his opinion about the situation: he believes Treliving would rather extend Marner than trade him.

Here's what he said on TSN's First Up:

«I believe, based on people that I talk to � again, as we're having this conversation � Marner's preference is to play out his contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He's got one year remaining. Doesn't mean that he's going to walk out the door after next season. That doesn't mean it at all. Of course, there's a risk of that, because he'd be a pending unrestricted free agent. That's not the perfect position for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Marner negotiated his deal in good faith, including the no-move clause.

And are we so sure that Toronto doesn't want to extend Mitch? I'm not. I think Treliving would rather extend than trade, but they're not having those discussions yet, either. It's still early. It's very premature across the board.»

Despite what happened in the playoffs this year, Marner played eight seasons in Toronto and had success.

In the regular season, he scored 639 points in 576 games. In the past, he also proved that he can play a big role in the playoffs too. Last season, he scored 11 points in six games to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round to end the Leafs' legendary drought, proving that he's able to perform in a big market like Toronto.

Do you agree with Darren Dreger about his opinion on Mitch Marner, Brad Treliving and the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Source: The Leafs Nation
Dreger on Marner: �I think Treliving would rather extend than trade'