While the Toronto Maple Leafs are just one game away from being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, their fans were dealt a significant blow on Thursday morning.
Toronto jumped out to a 2-0 series lead over the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, but an injury to starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz coupled with an unexpected offensive drought (the Maple Leafs have a combined five goals in Games 3-5), the Maple Leafs find themselves in a 3-2 series deficit and on the brink of going home.
As the team focuses on Friday’s must-win Game 6, it could be the last time Maple Leafs fans get to watch star forward Mitch Marner in a blue and white jersey.
According to a new report from The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, the odds are high that the 28-year-old 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’s Toronto’s second-leading scorer in the playoffs (12 points), behind only William Nylander (15 points), will be the most sought-after player in free agency if he hits the open market.
The former No. 4 overall pick led the Maple Leafs with a career-high 102 points in 81 games during the regular season, and he’s scored 85 or more points in five of his last seven seasons, which include three 90-point seasons and one 100-point season.
Johnston speculates Marner wants a fresh start with another team out of the shadow of Nylander, Auston Matthews and John Tavares.
“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,” he added.
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