Key Takeaways:
– NHL expert Frank Seravalli suggests a 5% chance for Mitch Marner to stay with Toronto Maple Leafs.
– Despite Marner expressing interest to stay, the scenario seems unlikely due to ongoing trade rumors.
– Seravalli insists that Toronto needs significant changes for next season.
– Marner registers exceptional performance last season with 26 goals and 59 assists.
– Following Toronto’s first-round playoff loss, Craig Berube replaces Sheldon Keefe as the head coach.
The Buzz Around Mitch Marner’s Future
Reports hint that Mitch Marner, the winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs, might not return for another season with the team. Frank Seravalli, a respected NHL insider, mentioned a mere 5% chance of Marner staying on for another year. This speculation comes as Marner approaches the final year of his six-year contract worth $65,408,000.
Ongoing Trade Rumors and a Need for Change
Despite Marner’s stated interest in staying put with the Maple Leafs, Seravalli maintains that the chances rank in single digits. The rumors have been brewing since the end of the season and seem to substantiate with each passing day.
Seravalli highlights Toronto’s need for significant changes, a sentiment shared by Brendan Shanahan, President of the Maple Leafs.”They have to make big changes, it’s not a choice. I can’t imagine doing this again for a ninth consecutive season. Everything is on the table,” stated Shanahan. With the team’s reputation and strategic play at stake, retaining Marner for his final contract year seems less probable.
A Relationship Rooted in Home Ground
Marner stepped into NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016-17 season, subsequent to being the team’s fourth overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft. Since his debut, Marner’s performance has been remarkable, making him one of the top contributors to the team’s success.
Toronto is home for Marner and post the first round Stanley Cup playoff elimination; he emphasized his interest in the team by expressing his love for the city and the team. Last season’s statistics with 26 goals, 59 assists, and a total score of 85 points in 69 games only make Marner’s potential departure a much-discussed topic.
New Beginnings for Toronto with Craig Berube
While Marner’s future at Toronto Maple Leafs remains uncertain, the team announced the appointment of Craig Berube as their new head coach. The official introduction is scheduled for May 21, following the team letting go of their former head coach Sheldon Keefe.
Boasting a successful six-year stint with the St. Louis Blues, Berube brings a wealth of experience to the Leafs. His illustrious past includes a Stanley Cup win in 2019, along with being a finalist for the Jack Adams Award the same year.
Berube, the NHL veteran, has 281-190-72 on his coaching record. The former NHL player boasts 1,000 plus games to his name, making him a significant addition to the team’s staff for the new season.
With changing team dynamics and the influx of new management, it remains to be seen how Toronto Maple Leafs shapes up for the forthcoming season, and most notably, Marner’s role.