4 Questions About Mitch Marner’s Future With the Maple Leafs That Need to Be Answered – The Hockey Writers Toronto Maple Leafs Latest News, Analysis & More

I’ve recently been considering Mitch Marner and his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Honestly, there seem to be a lot of questions surrounding his place on the team, his role with linemate Auston Matthews, and whether he’ll stick around long-term. It’s hard to tell what he’s thinking or what he might do when his contract expires at the end of this season.

In this post, I’ve asked four questions that need to be answered to better understand where Marner might be headed.

Question 1 – Is Marner Willing to Play Second Fiddle to Matthews?

In reality, Matthews is the center of attention in Toronto. He’s the goal-scorer, the face of the franchise, and the one who will always get the lion’s share of the spotlight. But that puts Marner in the shadow, right? As great as he is, he will always be “the other guy.” Does Marner mind that?

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I’m sure he’s okay with it on the surface. But deep down, does he want to be more than just the guy passing the puck to Matthews? Looking at Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton is the closest current comparison I can think of. McDavid is the top dog, but Draisaitl still gets a lot of respect and plays a significant role. In addition, from the outside, McDavid and Draisaitl seem to have a competition-free relationship. One doesn’t get that feeling between Matthews and Marner.

Question 2 – Is There an “Alpha” Between Matthews and Marner?

Similarly, with McDavid and Draisaitl, it’s clear McDavid is the alpha. The same exists in Toronto, with Matthews being the alpha. But in Toronto, at least this season, Marner will be the top scorer because Matthews has been injured. Marner is a major contributor, but he’ll never score goals like Matthews can.

Regarding contract talks, Marner’s agent will likely argue that he’s closer in value to Matthews than people might realize. But Matthews is a generational talent, and Marner is “only” an elite player. Matthews is the more significant presence, the goal-scorer. Marner is an elite playmaker, but it’s not the same as being the team’s go-to goal guy. So, does Marner accept that he’ll never be the top guy in Toronto?

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Or does he want to be the guy somewhere else – like in Chicago? If Marner does, will he take the chance and move on? Indeed, he can get more on the open market than he can with the Maple Leafs. Matthews’ salary will be higher than Marner’s next contract in Toronto. It has to be the line that won’t be crossed.

Question 3 – Does Marner Want to Escape the Spotlight?

Another thing about Marner is that he’s grown more private than Matthews. Matthews is always in the media, but Marner keeps to himself more. This changed over the past couple of years—maybe it’s because he’s married now? Perhaps it’s just the pressure of being in the media spotlight?

Marner says he loves being in Toronto, but his actions don’t always match that. Could he be looking for a quieter place to play – sort of like Ryan O’Reilly opting for Nashville and the Predators? Maybe he’s always tired of being under a microscope and would prefer a city where he’s not constantly in the media’s eye. It’s hard to say, but it’s something to consider.

Question 4 – What About Winning a Cup—Does That Change Things?

Here are two questions. First, what happens if the Maple Leafs fall short in the playoffs again? Second, what happens if the Maple Leafs finally take off on a successful Stanley Cup run? How might each scenario change what Marner does in the offseason? He’s already been through his share of criticism, and if they fall flat this time, the media will probably give him another rough ride. Could that push him to leave?

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But if the Maple Leafs go deep and win or come close to winning, maybe he does what he can to stay. The team’s playoff success this year could significantly influence his decision. As for money, the Maple Leafs could throw a big contract at him, but (as noted) it won’t be Matthews-large. If a team in Florida, Tennessee, or Texas (three states without state income taxes) sends a similar deal his way, that might look more attractive.

And with John Tavares’ legal issues over Canadian taxes, an enormous exodus of players could leave Canada to avoid those tax headaches. If Marner feels he can’t win in Toronto or the media circus is too much, he could seriously consider making a move.

The Bottom Line: We’re All Playing a Waiting Game with Marner

No one knows what Marner is thinking. He’s been with Toronto for a long time, and if he stays, he could become one of the top two Maple Leafs players of all time – after Matthews. And that itself might be the point. Interestingly, tomorrow’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship allows us to see the two go against each other. Could that become the norm?

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Things could change. Depending on how the Maple Leafs do in the postseason and how he feels about the spotlight, Marner could stay or decide to go. For now, all Maple Leafs fans can do is speculate.

But one thing is sure—Marner’s future with the Maple Leafs isn’t as clear-cut as it might seem. There are a lot of factors at play, and we’ll have to wait and see what happens.