It was the September of 2019. Mitch Marner was out of contract and negotiations were going on between his team and the Maple Leafs for an extension. However, it became a widely stretched subject, with both sides finding it difficult to reach an agreement. Eventually, just a day before the beginning of the Maple Leafs’ training camp, Marner signed a six-year deal valued at $65.358 million. It was a face-to-face meeting between Marner and the Maple Leafs’ GM back then, Kyle Dubas, following which the deadlock ended. Nonetheless, it took a toll on the relationship between Marner and the Maple Leafs fans. Fast forward to 2025, and Marner finds himself in a similar situation and NHL insider Chris Johnston revealed why he could exit the team.

The Maple Leafs went down fighting against the Panthers in an enthralling series 4-3 in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Subsequently, there were talks that Marner could have played his final game for the Maple Leafs as he’ll soon approach free agency. Even Johnston feels that he could move past the Maple Leafs due to a grave reason.

During The Scrum Podcast, Johnston explained, “If there’s two things that have made Toronto not place that Mitch Marner is not that eager to keep playing in, it would be his original contract negotiation back in 2019. You know, he and his camp extended into the training camp. But that’s when the fans started to turn on him. Mitch gave interviews at that time, said it was the first time he’d ever been yelled at.”

Further, he went on to add, “And on top of that, in the six years that followed, when the playoff success wasn’t there, a lot of it was aimed his way. I’m aware of a few incidents that Mitch had to deal with where it bordered on harassment, and it was very uncomfortable for him and the people he cares about.” 

However, it is no secret that Marner loves the Maple Leafs to death. Following their loss against the Panthers, he was devastated with the outcome and apologized to the team’s fans for not taking the Maple Leafs through. Nonetheless, he is an integral part of the team, having been around for so long. As a result, his teammates want him to stay on the team.

Auston Matthews breaks silence on Mitch Marner’s future

Both Matthews and Marner have been teammates for years now, playing together since 2016. Thus, they have developed a strong bond and are good friends on and off the ice. Following their Stanley Cup Playoffs exit, the Maple Leafs captain, Matthews, was asked about Marner’s future on the team.

He said, “He’s like a brother to me and you know, to all of us, I think we’re a very tight-knit group, and we obviously love him to death. That’s all I can really say about that.”

Even Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, in a now-deleted tweet, revealed, “John Tavares says he wants to come back. Mitch Marner said, ‘It’s too early to discuss his future’.”

However, as Johnston hints, it remains highly unlikely that Marner would stick around with the Maple Leafs. Additionally, he is just 28 years old and still has some of the best years of his hockey career ahead. Do you think that Marner could extend his contract with the Maple Leafs? Let us know your views in the comments below.