Leafs expected to play hardball with Mitch Marner over NMC

«The idea of having 40M tied up in 4 forwards - those days are over. The Maple Leafs are going to say that kind of roster construction is done. It doesn't work. They might have to bear with it for one more year, but overall, that philosophy is done."

"Yes, he has control over the situation with his no-movement clause, but there are a couple of questions here.

One, how does he feel? Does he think it's better long term for him somewhere elsedoes any part of him think it's time? I do think it's possible he will think about it. There will be a Marner collective (the people around him) conversation about if it's better for him to go somewhere else.

Number two is the organization. Do they think it's time? While Marner has the no-movement clause, the Leafs have the power to say we're not offering what you want. If you don't want to play ball with us that's fine. We can play it out next year but you're not getting your extension here and you're not getting the eighth year.

They can force the situation and they can say you can work with us now or make your decision later.

With Nylander they were not willing to lose the trade. They set a bar, if we trade him we're getting this. They have to consider the possibility if they make the deal (Marner) and they look like they lose it, they say, okay we're gonna do this, not for this trade but the flexibility to do other things."