Mitch Marner Blocks Massive Trade From the Toronto Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Editor in Leaf
Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who is a pending unrestricted free agent without a contract for next year, reportedly blocked a trade away from Toronto.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars completed a major transaction yesterday at the NHL Trade Deadline.
Mikko Rantanen is on his way to the Stars in exchange for Logan Stankoven, a conditional 1st round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, a conditional 1st round pick in the 2028 NHL Entry Draft, a 3rd round pick in the 2026 draft and a 3rd round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft.
The Stars even managed to convince Rantanen to stay with them long term, signing him to an 8 year contract extension.
But according to an explosive news release from analyst Elliotte Friedman, Carolina's 1st preference was to send Rantanen to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Mitch Marner.
There was only one problem - Marner refused to waive his no trade clause to facilitate the trade that would have sent him to the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes initially asked for Mitch Marner in return for Rantanen. Because it was for Rantanen, the Maple Leafs had to consider it. They told the winger their desire is to sign him, but they had to ask in this case. As is his right, Marner declined to move, re-iterating his desire to stay.
Neither the Maple Leafs, the Hurricanes, nor Marner's agent, Darren Ferris, would comment. But that could have been the biggest blockbuster of the week.
Neither the Maple Leafs, the Hurricanes, nor Marner's agent, Darren Ferris, would comment. But that could have been the biggest blockbuster of the week.
Instead, Rantanen was sent to the Stars (and ironically now plays in the same division as his former club, the Colorado Avalanche).
What an explosive deal it would have been if the Hurricanes had been intriguing enough to Marner to get him to waive his no trade clause.
The future of Marner with the Maple Leafs isn't concrete, as he's a pending UFA at the end of the year. But one thing is now set in stone - he'll be with the Leafs at least through the spring.
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