Hot Seat Radar: Maple Leafs’ Marner Faces Pressure Until Playoff Success
As the NHL’s 2024 off-season progresses, we continue our THN.com’s Hot Seat Radar series. This series evaluates every NHL team, starting from the end of the alphabet, and highlights one player, coach, or management member under significant pressure to deliver positive results or face consequences. Additionally, we identify someone likely to stay secure in their position, and occasionally, we mention someone in a middle-ground status. So far, we’ve covered the Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals, Vegas Golden Knights, Vancouver Canucks, and Utah Hockey Club. Today, we focus on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
MAPLE LEAFS’ HOT SEAT: MITCH MARNER, RW
No player is feeling more pressure than Mitch Marner. The 27-year-old winger has faced increasing scrutiny every season, and after last year’s early playoff exit, the stakes are even higher for the 2024-25 season. If GM Brad Treliving doesn’t trade Marner this summer, he’ll start training camp amid persistent questions about his future, as he enters the final year of his contract. Should he stay beyond the trade deadline, speculation will intensify until he either signs a new deal or leaves as a free agent, freeing up his $10.9 million salary cap hit.
Mitch Marner is doing media rounds for his Marner Assist Foundation today, a great charity now in its 6th year.
This year, though, has been quite different as far as interviews go. No #Leafs questions permitted.
Here is the interview he did with CTV this hour. pic.twitter.com/A52REVc2m3
— David Alter (@dalter) July 12, 2024
Despite his star status, Marner has yet to prove himself as a game-changer in crucial playoff moments. His future with the Leafs remains uncertain, and another strong regular season won’t matter if the team fails to make a deep playoff run. Although Marner might feel unfairly targeted by fans and media, this level of scrutiny is common for players in successful organizations. He must deliver impressive results, or his time in Toronto may end sooner than expected.
MAPLE LEAFS’ COLD SEAT: (TIE) AUSTON MATTHEWS, C; AND WILLIAM NYLANDER, RW
Auston Matthews and William Nylander will begin new contract extensions in 2024-25, with Matthews earning $13.25 million annually and Nylander $11.5 million. Both players are top offensive threats and have improved defensively each year. Matthews, 26, had a stellar season with 69 goals and 107 points, while Nylander, 28, achieved a career-high with 58 assists alongside his second consecutive 40-goal season.
8 MORE FOR 88!
The Maple Leafs have signed William Nylander to a eight-year, $92M extension. The biggest total contract in Toronto Maple Leafs history.
Leaf for life #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/ZK2fCwAVB5
— Maple Leafs Wave (@LeafsWave) January 8, 2024
This level of offensive production is highly coveted, and Toronto is fortunate to have multiple elite players. GM Treliving is unlikely to trade either Matthews or Nylander, and while team performance is crucial, management would consider trading anyone but these two. They are secure in their roles for at least the next four seasons and likely many more, solidifying their place as long-term key players for the Leafs.
