With yet another Game 7 loss in the books, there’s little doubt that Mitch Marner’s future lies somewhere other than Toronto, writes Chris Johnston of The Athletic. After his first 100-point regular-season performance, Marner didn’t record a point in last night’s season-ending loss and saw only 18:43 of ice time, his lowest of the 2025 playoffs. He recorded eight points in six games against the Senators in the first round but had just one point and a minus-three rating in Games 4 through 7 against Florida.
As Johnston wrote following the Leafs’ Game 5 loss to put them on the brink of elimination, Marner testing the unrestricted free agent market this summer is nearly a given. In his media availability following last night’s loss, he referred to his Toronto tenure in the past tense:
“It meant everything. (They) took maybe a risky pick on a small kid from Toronto and I’ve been forever grateful to be able to wear this Maple Leaf, and be a part of some of the great legends here and be able to wear this jersey.”
Letting Marner walk will, of course, free up all of his $10.9MM cap hit to spend elsewhere on the roster. Retaining him on a long-term deal would have likely cost them an additional $2MM per season, if not more – TSN’s Darren Dreger said last night that an eight-year, $13.5MM AAV offer was on the table at some point (via Nick Barden of The Hockey News). Whether that flexibility is spent wisely will determine how quickly Toronto can execute a retool without their top scorer.
There’s more on the Leafs:
- Former captain John Tavares, also a pending unrestricted free agent, had a much different tone last night. He made it clear in no uncertain terms that he wants to come to terms on an extension to continue his career in Toronto (via TSN), although it’ll need to be at a considerable discount from his expiring $11MM cap hit. There were some extension talks during the season, but it’s not clear how close the two sides got to an agreement. The 34-year-old managed nearly a point per game in the regular season but only had a 5-2–7 scoring line in 13 postseason games, including a four-game point drought to end the playoffs.
- While last summer’s coaching change did help propel the Leafs out of the first round for the second time in three years, it didn’t get them to the Conference Finals for the first time in the salary cap era. “I think this team has fire,” bench boss Craig Berube told James Mirtle of The Athletic. “I can’t explain (what happened) right now, nor do I want to, (with Game) 5 and (Game) 7 at home. Obviously (there are) things that we have to look at and talk about as an organization.”
- The Maple Leafs’ powerhouse offense cocooning, not necessarily defensive missteps, have been what’s cost them in past Game 7s. That trend continued in 2025, with Max Domi’s early third-period goal registering as Toronto’s only output for the night. As The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel points out, Toronto has now been limited to just one goal in a remarkable five straight Game 7s.
Marner is the whipping boy, while Mathews and Tavares always get a pass.
100% . Where was the rest of the team? It will be a blessing for him to leave, then beat them. Time to rebuild.
while I agree both JT and AM also struggled, MM didn’t step up in this series and in fact acted opposite a star you want on your team. he yelled at the guys to Wake the F up when he himself played his worst hockey of the season (again) and then after the second was the first off the ice while Matthews was trying to calm everyone down and tell them it’s not over.
I have defended Mitch in the past but this playoff showed why the Leafs are better moving on from what may be a future albatross of a contract if he gets $14m
I don’t think I heard Mathew’s name that entire game 7…..helps playoff numbers are way worse than Marner’s…. I don’t get the blind love for Mathews….
Helps = his (typo)
AM and JT def have blame but Mitch is the guy who’s going to ask for $13+ and who was a 100 point player and who never shows up in these games and who got mad at his team last night when he needed to WTFU. He demonstrated last night why he is not capable of winning a cup. no heart, no grit, no ability to battle, no clue.
Marner to the Islanders and then the spirits can sleep.
Islanders cannot afford him. I also can’t imagine that’s his first choice of where to go. That being said the irony would be interesting.
Eh, not ALL that much of a discount in Tavares’ case, unless he goes for term over $. The guy matched his career high in goals, he’s been elite on the dot, and he’d be the 1st line center on many of the teams in the league. I’m not particularly a fan of his game, but he can still produce.
It was the second highest goal total of his career as he scored 47 his first year in Toronto. I predict Tavares gets $7 million per year on his next contract. Age has to be considered.
Leafs are definitely out at that number. $5m is their max
If he can get $7mm elsewhere and the Leafs offer $5mm then there will be pressure from the PA unless the Leafs offer is a lot longer.
Montreal will be in him despite what Leafs will say
Tavares could absolutely get more than $7 MM elsewhere, if it’s a relatively short term contract, say two years — hell, what’s the going rate for a center of his proved production? $7 MM is what he could expect to get for anything beyond that, although long term contracts to someone his age is always a stupid thing for a team to give.
Yesterday’s Leafs effort reminds me of an episode that probably landed on the cutting room floor — “Sherlock Holmes And The Case Of The Missing NHL Playoff Team”.
The Swamp Kitties’ side of the ledger looked like the perfect example of Jimmy Durante’s famous line, “Everybody’s gotta get into the act!”
summer list
1. burn the Shanaplan
2. move on from Marner
3. move Rielly (can’t play defence and is frequently out of position)
4. find a 2nd line C with some offense and grittiness
5. sign knies Ronan extension before July 01.
6. go over tape of game 7 and hammer home if you are just going to give the puck away instead of taking a hit, you won’t have a role come playoff time.
@MoneyBallJustWorks — All good suggestions, but not understanding the reference to “Ronan”? Unless that was supposed to be “to an”?
bingo. fat fingers and auto correct don’t always mix
@MoneyBallJustWorks — Been there. A lot. :)
Mathews is new Ovechkin . He will get lots of records but win very few if any championships. this group does not work time to try something different.
The Leafs need to eliminate their nemesis and sign Marchand.
@The Angry Bruin — Wouldn’t it be hilarious if they tried, and he gave them a Heisman face wash? Then, we could all say, “That’s the LBOH for you!”