Insider Names 3 Veteran Stars the Maple Leafs Could Be Eyeing to Replace Marner

Things have quieted down on the Mitch Marner front these days, as the Toronto Maple Leafs and their star forward are just going about their business and getting the young season off to a nice 3-1-0 start, with Marner at his typical point-per-game-plus pace, with five points.

But as the hometown Leafs star is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, the drama surrounding him will always be there... lurking in the background at least.

The knock against Marner (and the other 'Core Four' as well) has always been their inability to get it done in the playoffs.

To that end, hockey analyst (and former Maple Leaf) Nick Kypreos has suggested in his latest column in the Toronto Star that if Marner and the Buds can't come to an extension agreement that they're both comfortable with, the team could be looking at a 'backup plan' for a replacement similar to what the Tampa Bay Lightning did by letting franchise icon Steven Stamkos go this past summer, allotting his money to free agent Jake Guentzel.

A similar scenario could play out for Toronto with pending free agents such as Mikko Rantanen, Sam Bennett or Brad Marchand, providing they are still available on July 1.

All three of those potential UFAs have one thing in common: They're all the ultimate playoff warriors, each one of them having won a Stanley Cup, and helping to lead their teams while doing it.

It would be a surprise to see the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers and/or Boston Bruins, respectively, allow Rantanen, Bennett or Marchand to go elsewhere... But then there's that Stamkos thing that nobody thought would ever happen. Never say never.

Fellow Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, when asked about this potential eventuality on The Fan Hockey Show, responded the way he has been ever since the Marner rumours started up earlier this year:

"I think everybody (in Toronto)—EVERYBODY—will regret it" if Marner is allowed to go elsewhere to continue his career.

Still a lot of time to play out before any of this is settled. It could all come down—once again—to how the playoffs unfold in Toronto.