Mitch Marner's Contract Negotiations Leaves Fans Stunned
The hockey world is buzzing as NHL insider James Mirtle of The Athletic has revealed a jaw-dropping update on Mitch Marner’s future with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
According to Mirtle, the two sides are inching closer to a contract extension, but here’s the kicker: the sticking point is a mere $1 million, standing between Marner and a new deal with the team he’s called home since being drafted.
notes from mirtle: he suspects the leafs are close to $13M AAV on a marner extension (presumably for 8 years)
— Willyston Riellander (@nylanderthews) March 10, 2025
he also notes he doesn’t doubt marner can command $13.5M or more on the open market this summer
i can't believe this is going to end over less than $1M pic.twitter.com/UkqQAj4ZSm
For context, that’s barely more than the league minimum salary and a fraction of what the Leafs spent on Jani Hakanpaa, who’s played just two games this season.
It’s a head-scratching gap for a player of Marner’s caliber, especially during a career-defining year where he’s on pace to smash the 100-point mark. With 79 points in 62 games, Marner has been nothing short of sensational, carrying the Leafs through injuries to Auston Matthews and proving time and again that this team is worse off without him.
He’s been their most consistent performer, night in and night out, and his role in Team Canada’s victory at the 4 Nations Face-Off only underscores his ability to deliver in clutch moments.
He’s made it clear he wants to stay in Toronto and win with the Maple Leafs, but the question remains: will the Leafs step up and pay him what he’s worth?
If Marner holds out for more money, he’s gambling on a relatively small pay bump that could backfire, especially for a player still chasing his first championship.
On the flip side, if the Leafs let this drag on, they risk alienating their star winger or, worse, losing him to a team willing to meet his demands in free agency. The stakes are high.
Image - Dan Hamilton-Imagn
