Trusted experts claim Mitch Marner does not return to Maple Leaf – Hockey Writer – Toronto Maple Leaf
After a lack of playoffs, Toronto Maple Leaf will look a lot different next season. It seems inevitable that they will make some changes, and Mitchell Marner is expected to test the open market and they will have to pivot to see if they can find a way to re-enter the playoff competition next season. Trusted experts added fuel to the fire on Friday (June 13), when he claimed that Marner certainly wouldn’t return to the maple leaf.
It can be confirmed that Mitch Marner will not return to Toronto. We will play for the new team next season. #LeafsForever
– Andy Strickland (@AndyStrickland) June 13, 2025
Marner, 28, scored 27 goals and added 75 assists to score 102 points in 81 games this season. If he does make it into the open market, he will have a lot of suitors as he has proven that he can provide consistent offensive stability in both the regular season and the playoffs.
Related: Maple Leafs Shouldn’t Target Brad Marchand in Offseason
Strickland added that if Marner does make an open market, it will re-sign for John Tavares and re-join Maple Leaf next season.
Mana leaves Toronto for John Tavares to return. Entering the season, the leaves are expected to allow veterans to walk in the center. As Mana leaves this change in mindset. #LeafsForever
– Andy Strickland (@AndyStrickland) June 13, 2025
Marner is stronger than Tavares, but keeping Tavares stabilizes its depth and lets Maple Leafs spend money elsewhere during the offseason. Although the report has not been backed up and is still speculating at the moment, it is interesting to consider what it might mean for their lives after Mana left and for the future of their team.
Who is the one who can replace Mana with Maple Leaf?
This summer, there will be many options to replace Marner, and although none can directly replace the production he brings, there are still some strong options. Brock Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers will be the two best players available in the open market this summer and may be expensive, but their goal makes sense if they want to radiate maple leaves for big names free agents.
If he doesn’t ask for too much money, they can spin to veterans like Brad Marchand, or they can evaluate the trade market for another star player like Jason Robertson or JJ Peterka, but if Marner does test free agents, they will have a lot of money to spend a lot of money. Some speculate that Marner is looking for more than $14 million in funding every year, which seems a little high for what Maple Leaf can afford. They can take the money elsewhere and strengthen their depth on the forward and blue lines.
Ultimately, the Maple Leafs seem inevitably going to plan for their life without Mana. It’s always possible that Mana re-signed with Maple Leaf, all guesses end up being wrong, but they’ll be stupid if they’re just in case and don’t think about alternatives. We will see what happened, but if it is still possible that he will open, the maple leaves have run out of time to bring him back.
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