Maple Leafs GM Addresses Marner Trade Rumor in Impromptu Session

Insider Elliotte Friedman revealed over the weekend that the Toronto Maple Leafs had to go to Mitch Marner to run a potential trade offer by him from the Carolina Hurricanes—for Mikko Rantanen. As we know, of course, Marner invoked his no-move clause, and that was that.

But with that news leaking out, it created a media frenzy, which Leafs GM Brad Treliving made a point of addressing in a surprise news conference on Sunday:

Leafs GM Brad Treliving on Mitch Marner:

"I wanted to make sure we came out, addressed it. I support Mitch 1000 per cent & he’s not out here on an island with us. We’re trying to worry about winning hockey games."@TSNHockey @TSN_Sports
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) March 9, 2025

“Just to respond to some of the reporting that came out yesterday with regards to Mitch... I wanted to make sure we came out, addressed it,” Treliving said. "We're aligned with Mitch... We want him here for a long time. We think the world of him.

“I support Mitch 1,000%, and he’s not out here on an island with us. We’re trying to worry about winning hockey games.”

If he was bothered by it, Marner certainly didn't show it in Saturday's night game in Denver, coming out on fire, scoring two goals, giving him 79 points in 62 games, on pace for a career-high of 104 points.

After Rantanen was dealt to the Dallas Stars and signed an eight-year, $12M AAV extension, it left Marner as the top dog for this coming summer's free agent frenzy. He's expected to command something in the neighbourhood of a $14M AAV.

And while Treliving made it clear he wants to re-sign Marner, and the player reiterated his desire to stay in Toronto, we'll have to see how that all goes after the playoffs are done and July 1st arrives.