NHL Rumor Mill – March 10, 2025
The latest on Mitch Marner plus updates on the Rangers and Sabres in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LEAFS GM HOPES MARNER REMAINS WITH THE LEAFS
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan reports Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving addressed reports claiming the club spoke to Mitch Marner about a possible trade to the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen, who was later dealt to the Dallas Stars.
The reports stated the Leafs offered prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten, plus two first-round picks to the Hurricanes for Rantanen. The Hurricanes countered by pitching a swap of Rantanen for Marner. Treliving is believed to have told the winger that their priority was to re-sign him, but there was an opportunity to be traded to Carolina if he preferred. Marner is said to have stated he wanted to stay in Toronto.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).
Treliving said he wouldn’t get into questions about contract talks with the Marner camp. However, he claimed they wanted to keep the winger in Toronto for a long time, dismissing the possibility of the trade request becoming a distraction. He also praised Marner for how well he handled this situation.
Marner said he was focused on this season, adding he wants to play for the Leafs. Nevertheless, Koshan believes plenty of teams will line up to sign the 27-year-old winger if he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner will seek a substantial raise over his current $10.3 million annual cap hit. He might accept slightly less than Leafs captain Auston Matthews’ team-leading $13.25 million AAV to stay in Toronto, but he could get more than that on the open market.
The reports indicated that Leafs management stressed to Marner that they wanted to re-sign him when they informed him of the trade offer from the Hurricanes. They didn’t ask him to waive his no-movement clause but left it up to him to decide what he wanted to do.
Taken at face value, it doesn’t seem like this situation will adversely affect their contract negotiations. Nevertheless, with the trade deadline having passed, we’ve reached the point where speculation over the future of pending UFA stars like Marner will begin to dominate the rumor mill.
WHAT WILL THE RANGERS DO WITH ZIBANEJAD, PANARIN & KREIDER?
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks briefly looked ahead at what could be in store in the offseason for forwards Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Both players surfaced in trade rumors this season.
Zibanejad has a full no-movement clause throughout his contract, which expires in 2029-30. Brooks believes any discussions with the 31-year-old forward will be held this summer and won’t be allowed to carry over into training camp in September. The same goes for any possibility of a trade for Kreider.
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple also believes any discussions regarding the futures of Zibanejad and Kreider will be relegated to the offseason. He speculated that Kreider could become a buyout candidate if no one wants to take on his $6.5 million AAV for the next two seasons.
Staple suggested looking into whether Artemi Panarin will waive his NMC. The 33-year-old winger has a year remaining on his contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin carries an AAV of $11.6 million for next season, but he’s due to earn $8 million in actual salary, of which $7 million will be paid out on July 1 as a signing bonus. That could make him enticing for cost-conscious clubs, assuming he’s willing to accept a trade to one of them.
Zibanejad has an AAV of $8.5 million but has five more years left on this deal. Factor in his age (he turns 32 in April) and declining production, and he won’t be an easy sell in the trade market. The 33-year-old Kreider and his recent injury history could also affect his trade value. Buying out his contract will count as $3 million against the Rangers’ salary cap for 2025-26, $4 million for 2026-27, and $1.5 million annually for the following two seasons.
LATEST ON THE SABRES
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington reports the trade of Dylan Cozens to the Ottawa Senators for Josh Norris on Friday wouldn’t have happened if Sabres owner Terry Pegula was planning to fire general manager Kevyn Adams. However, Harrington believes Adams is getting one last chance from Pegula.
Meanwhile, Adams denied there was any truth to a rumored move of pending restricted free agent JJ Peterka to the New York Rangers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are about to extend their league-record playoff drought to 14 seasons. Adams will have a projected $22.4 million in offseason cap space to make additions to his roster.
Adams complained last December of the difficulty he faced last summer trying to attract quality players via free agency or the trade market. If his offseason moves fail to improve the Sabres, he won’t be in his current job by this time next season.
The Trade between
Buffalo & Ottawa
SABRES
Dylan Cozens to the Ottawa Senators for Josh Norris on Friday wouldn’t have happened if Sabres owner Terry Pegula was planning on firing the GM Adam!s
The trade was good for both teams. Both teams ended up getting what we needed.🤙
However i ithinkk it could still happen….🤔
Do buffalo have a President of Hockey Operation’s, XX. C
“Do buffalo have a President of Hockey Operation’s”
The kindest thing that can be said about Buffalo not having a PoHO is that it lends credence to those shouting about Pegula’s incompetence.
The Sabres and Senators are yet to see the results of their trade. The Sabres acquired a playmaking, goal scoring center in Josh Norris. The Senators acquired a problem player in Dylan Cozens who constantly talks about improving and constantly fails to produce.
The Sabres need a president of hockey operations indeed. The president would hold hockey operations accountable for winning.
The Sabres should add a president of business operations also.
Maybe it’s not the City of Buffalo, the weather, the taxes etc. Maybe the trouble the Sabres have in attracting quality free agents is because the team has missed the playoffs 14 years in a row and currently sit 30th in a 32 team league. Who would willingly join that circus?
@Gored1970 You are 100% right and it all starts with the owner, he’s owned the team 12 of those 14 years. He continues to hire first time GM’s, this team is no better than when Adams took over 5 years ago.
Adams made a statement after the trade and he said Pegula empowered him to do what he thinks which a) Adams is back next year b) Pegula has interfered in trades and UFA signings bc of internal cap.
Pegula talked big when he bought the team, it was about nothing but winning the cup and if it cost more money he’d dig another well what a fracker he is.
Late yesterday I posted a scenario to Ron Moore re the Marner situation, and the more I think about it the more I can see it playing out.
In essence what I postulated was the possibility that the Leafs do not re-sign him and he walks as a UFA. Which wouldn’t exactly mean they wind up with nothing.
What Treleving would have is Marner’s $10,903,000 – which would off-set that sting to a significant degree – the additional $4.5 mil (and maybe a bit more) from the cap increase, and the $3,118,000 from the expiring cap hits of Pacioretty, Lorentz and Hakanpass (none of whom figure to be back) and right there he has just over $18.5 mil to go UFA shopping (or perhaps even offer-sheet possibility).
Then there’s the Tavares situation. It’s pretty much agreed that he’s getting nothing close to his expiring $11 mil deal, so let’s say he does re-up to stay in Toronto at $5.5 mil. Add that the difference to the $18.5 mil and you’re looking at a shopping kitty of around $24 mil. He could be real competitive for the the top UFAs coming on the market.
If, say, Tavares re-ups for something closer to $5 mil per, you’re looking at just over $20,000,000 in shopping money, leading to perhaps the most exciting summer in recent Leafs memory.
So…how has Tavares’ CRA issue gone?. I ask because that may determine how willing and how much of a payout he is willing to take. I read about his next contract to be between 5 and 6 million but if legal fees and potential pay back to CRA in millions hangs over his head…likely or not.
I can see how it may lead him to either asking for more or being more apt to listen to offers from other teams.
But who is to say….time will tell
1Oilerfan, you could be right on Tavares. OK, so he turns 35 at the start of next season, but he is still producing at a very good rate (26 goals so far this season) and 55 pts in 56gp – so a point a game pace. On that basis I could see offers come in at $6.5 to $7 mil over a 3-year term, at the end of which he’d be turning just 38 – and he seems to be the type who makes sure he stays in top physical condition.
My idea is a 4×6 deal and Toronto guarantees they buy out the last year. Gives Tavares a little over 21 million, keeps the cap hit at 6. The bonus is it`s legal and the bonus he can still resign with Toronto if both sides want it. It`s not a 35+ contract so they can pay signing bonus`s
Sounds very reasonable … and doable. The $6 rather than $5.5 I suggested still gives Treleving close to $24 Mil (combined with the other scenarios that is) with which to shop the better UFA markets – both for a top UFA to replace Marner and better bottom 6 Fs and D.
Sorry George I missed that. In your list of players to sign they do have Knies as a RFA so it’s either a bridge contract or something similar to what other young 22-23yr old promising top six power winger, 60pt players sign long term, around the $7-9m range for max term.
Even still a lot of cap space but ultimately will the team be better? Different, yes. I can see them being more a grind out team than a skill team and probably lower scoring but only a bit since they will be in position to get more dirty goals than highlight reel ones.
One last thing and many will agree, as per usual the sky is falling in Toronto because the GM approached the still unsigned player (since the contract is still unsigned/finalized) if he would prefer to move on and join another team in a trade, superstar winger for superstar winger. That’s like nothing to see here, right? To me it was like they asked, since you haven’t been overly interested in any offers by the team, if you’re thinking of wanting to move on…would you? To which Marner said, no. He wants to stay in Toronto. It’s very easy for him to leave and he’ll have a lot of reasons to but I’ll be surprised if he did. He does, need to boaster his value to the fans since most had him shipped out two years ago and probably still feel the same. Winning big or being clutch will certainly help with that. Winning cures all.
Why wouldn t Marner get out from the ridiculous pressure in Toronto and go to a young team with all kinds of money in a beautiful state like Utah! He could walk down the street and no one would know him! He can bring mommy and daddy if he needs to,or his girlfriend!
Sorry Ron you don`t go to a player and ask them to waive his NMC for the purpose of trading him and then turn around and say that their priority is to resign him, doesn`t wash. Marner`s emotions came out in the post game interview tells you that it`s not as simple as that. Of course now everybody`s saying the right things now trying to keep the media out of it. If Toronto can scratch together an offer to sign Rantanen for about 13 per in a heartbeat, why hasn`t Marner been resigned in 8 months of trying or not trying. Most players if their goal is to resign seem to want to get it done so it isn`t a distraction, same with management. They both know it`s going to be a distraction and yet here we are. If Marner/Toronto has a bad playoffs yikes
Marner likes the attention, the recognition. In an interview last summer he called himself a hockey god. He got a lot of flack for that comment. He might prefer a city that`s not as critical of him as Toronto is, but I can`t see him going to a city where he`s not recognized. I can see him signing in Chicago to play with Bedard
Wonderful to see Leaf fans going through exactly what Islander fans went through with TavareSnake. “yes I want to stay, dont’ trade me blah blah blah”……leaf bedspread/pj combo he’s gone! And yes. Some of us are still very bitter.
I wonder. If Raantonen stays in Colorado in a comfortable situation with his buddy Nate for 12m with the foresight of what all occurred? Did Colorado even get close to that number?
Yogi and Sr, I think if you’re a star player in the league, most of all you want to be on a team competing for a cup and close to winning more than just money and opportunity which he has already in Toronto.
The circus has always existed and some guys like it and others don’t. It’s clear he tries to show it doesn’t bother him but refreshing to see it does, simply because it shows he cares. Players who become indifferent tend to move on, ones that show that Marner has isn’t that. I’m betting he will resign.
DarkG you need some cheese to go with that 7-year-old whine?
OMG, bro give it a rest, it doesn’t look good still crying SEVEN years later. Answer this:
If you were a great player, a former first-overall pick, a franchise player, etc, why would you resign with a team where you essentially elevated many scrubs to become top six players, sign an extension because help was on the way but never did and so when you had an opportunity to sign with a team you never thought there was a chance of ever happening and was trending in an upward trajectory vs a team that is sadly still going nowhere and having only so many good years left that you can contribute and live out a dream, why wouldn’t anyone do that? Because he said he was 100% going to resign to a team that in eight years did nothing to improve while he was there? So he can spend another 8+ yrs collecting a paycheque but never achieve his ultimate goal? I don’t think he deserves the treatment fans like you gave him…you should direct it to the current issue you still have and that clearly is management.
I agree with you George, the fact that Treliving took the trade offer to Marner tells you that Treliving didn`t believe Marner was going to resign. If Toronto thought Marner was resigning at what they considered to be a fair value contract, they would`ve simply turned down Carolina`s offer. The rumoured 13 million per offer for Rantanen shows the money wasn`t the obstacle for signing a RW. The question becomes just what are Marner`s demands. I said before Marner`s crying during his post game interview might have been reality hitting him that he`s not coming back. Marner should`ve been dealt with long ago and Toronto`s leaving contracts to the last minute costs them extra. This was present under Dubas and still there under Treliving. Which kinda points the finger towards Shanahan`s doing. It doesn`t look like Shanahan will be returning next year so we`ll see if there`s a change in this philosophy in the summer. Maybe Marner not coming back is tied to Shanahan not coming back. We know Shanahan blocked a trade involving a core member when Dubas there. I can see changes coming to Toronto`s management coming if they don`t do well this spring
First off, I think Marner stays if they win a round or 2, or more.
Out in the first round might change that calculation, then it gets really tough for Tre to sign him to big $$. Unless he plays outstanding in that loss and is their best player.
I don’t blame Tre for this contract dragging on, both sides need to agree. Marner is trying to maximize his contract, at his agents advise, and his NMC kicked in going into 23/24 season, which I think was before Tre got there? That is Marner’s right to do so, as is staying put in Toronto until it expires. So what is Tre supposed to do other than try and get the most out of the player on the ice.
Tre is put in a tough spot but in the end all he can do is play the cards he was dealt. Come this summer, the team and the player both get to make decisions. Going to be really interesting, that we do know.
Treliving got hired about the middle of June and he even said his priority was to resign Matthews and Nylander. If Toronto loses in the 1st round look out, you could see a whole new management in Toronto. Before I might of said signing Marner vs. cap space to sign who might be available July 1st. But the fact that they were so willing to throw money at Rantanen says that`s not the case. Marner keeps saying he`s leaving everything up to his agent, which would be a 180 from when he signed this contract, that was a circus. Now, there`s no indication they`re even talking. Hard to imagine that both sides want to leave it to June 30th. Makes more sense for Treliving to want to wait till after the playoffs than Marner. If Toronto wins the cup, Marner will get what he wants. Anything less than that scenario won`t get him much extra. Remember until June 30th Toronto is now the only club that can give Marner an 8 year deal. July 1st nobody can and I don`t see any team paying Marner 15+ to make up the difference
Yogi, do you dump the whole management if they lose again? I don’t… I can still remember what this team was before the current management and it is 100% because of them that the Leafs have been in the playoffs ever since the year following them finishing last and drafting Matthews.
While the Leafs haven’t had as much success in the postseason, eventually losing the series that went the distance to teams that usually were far superior (and have gone onto the finals in most cases). The Leafs didn’t struggle like most teams failing to make the playoffs after they bottomed out like most teams which isn’t the norm, especially with a rookie GM and coach. Most teams in the same period take the normal or conventional route teams after a major rebuild…sort of like what Montreal and Ottawa are on…the Leafs never had that hardship of trying to get into the playoffs but rather have been burdened to perform in the postseason.
But now the team’s stars are in their primes and have faced adversity while still maintaining an upper echelon in the league isn’t something you just toss away. It is time for them to put up or else like with any team, changes are needed but nothing to the craziness people casually toss out there.
Marner has no reason to go anywhere, he has never given an indication of wanting to be anywhere other than Toronto.
You guys have a core that is the envy of the league, have consistently made the playoffs …..yet are called a bust.
How many franchises have done as well as these “failures”?
This particular year the goaltending is there, the holes have been filled, coaching has changed the culture, this is the year you TML fans deserve to think it’s time.
Agree with that post HF30.
Agree Marner wants to stay, at least sure seems like a guy who likes being there, and his team mates. And like you said, they have had success, just not much in the playoffs.
Also agree that this year’s Leafs look like the best version in a while for playoff success, on paper. Well balanced, and have the tending.
Problem they have, if they don’t finish first, will be a brutal first round matchup. If they get through that, a restacked Florida squad is waiting for them.
If the Leafs can find a way to win the division, it would be huge IMO. TBay is a very good team that has been playing really well for a couple months, and Vassy is back.
Ray the Leafs still lack secondary scoring… Calro won’t help that anemic offense from the back end and I doubt Laughton will move the needle either.
What they did do is make it harder to score against them, hopefully giving the Leafs top guns the time to score. You can’t go into the playoffs thinking as long as you can win those 2-1 goal games you should be fine… You need to be able to pot up to four goals at any given night; right now I doubt this team can.
Making small improvements when and where you can while having/maintaining a strong core is never a bad idea. That’s how teams win; do not dump good players/coaches just for a change in scenery or culture.
Dump the whole management Ron that depends. If they bow out in the first round Shanny`s a goner. Usually if you replace the top guy, the new guy wants his choice to be GM and the GM wants his choice to coach, not what they inherit. Does Marner have a reason to leave, only him and his hairdresser know the answer to that one and no one knows any reason for why the contract hasn`t been signed yet. Marner says he wants to stay, Treliving says he wants Marner to stay. Disregard the fact that Tre asked Marner to waive his NMC. Marner unsigned will be a distraction going forward, fans media will continue to ask about until it`s done, one way or the other. I`m sure Treliving not knowing whether Marner resigns might of affected what he might of wanted to do at the deadline. Treliving wanted players with term or some one that he knew would resign (Nelson) and not knowing how much cap space he`d have to work with might of made a difference. This version of the Leafs is the best one going into the playoffs, More secondary scoring would`ve been nice, but it`s still the best version so far. The need to remove as much of the distractions and uncertainties as possible should be a priority for players and management. Marner is one of the best RW`s in the game, but there is a limit to what a team can pay and by now I`m sure both sides know what it is. Marner at the same cost as Nylander, I`d keep him. Marner at lets say 14 then it`s goodbye. If they win the cup then everybody`s happy, everybody`s richer except us fans
George, that is real possibility in my opinion. Marner’s been one of my favourite Leafs since he came into the league but, if Toronto goes out early in the playoffs, your scenario becomes extremely plausible.
The keys to a successful playoff run for the Leafs are to have Matthews get back to scoring goals and a healthy defence corps.
Even then. getting out of the division is going to take some doing.
Marner and Tavares may both be playing somewhere else next year.
Re-Leaf’’s
Marner$12.M to $12.5M
And that’s it..❓
Tavares $5.M to 6.M
And that’s it….❓
Leafs need to spend money another areas you just can’t spend it all on the top 34 players again like you did the last number of years cause it’s not working
That last para above was from yesterday and wasn’t meant to be included again – sheesh – cut-paste combined with poor editing!
Rangers really need to try and move on from Panarin. The Ottawa game showed his good, bad, and ugly sides. Gifted offensive player (when he has space) was on ice for tying goal and game winner in OT. Zero effort defensively on either. I’d rather keep Kreider who has almost half the cap hit. Just as valuable on PP and kills penalties too. Looked a lot better yesterday.
When it comes right down to it, Marner will weigh all of his options after the season is over. He has earned that right by playing out his contract and getting to UFA status. He was smart in his last negotiations to have a NMC included to give him say in regards to being traded.
Now, players will make their decision based on a number of different criteria. Money will always be one of the biggest factors. However, some may be willing to take a bit less if it means playing close to home, playing on a winning team, relationship with teammates, playing for a fan base and for some it is the tax situation.
Toronto is in the lead in regards to be closest to home, being able to offer that 8th year and playing with teammates he is used to playing with. However, I am sure it will be viewed as a negative that they asked him to waive his NMC for another UFA. Playing in Toronto is like playing in a vacuum. I can just imagine what it would be like to be one of the leaders of the team that wins the first Stanley Cup in over 50 years. But, he also had to endure the hate from the fan base. Hate that he was not willing to waive his NMC last summer. Hate that the team has only made it out of the first round once in the last 10 years. I am sure it weighs on him, but why should it be on his shoulders? He has lead the team in scoring over that period of time. If his contract had come up before Nylander’s, would it be different?
Maybe it is time for Marner to part ways with the Leafs. He will have plenty of options. I am sure he will find a team that is will ing to make moves to get him on a competitive team. Maybe even a team that needs that one more guy to take the next step.
Would Leaf fans be happyt for him if he left and got his ring for a different franchise?