Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on the 32 Ideas: The Podcast – The Cup Closing is Set episode speaking concerning the Toronto Maple Leafs and Mitch Marner and their future.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Marek: “And we’ll end up the information section with this identify and this gained’t get a lot consideration. Mitch Marner. Lately photographed in a …”
Friedman: “Espresso store.”
Marek: “Espresso store within the west finish of Toronto with head coach Craig Berube. What’s your spidey sense saying on Mitch Marner and Toronto, Elliotte?”
Friedman: “So all people is admittedly attempting to not pour gasoline on the fireplace right here, Jeff, so let’s do it.”
Marek: “No, right here we go. Cracking it open. Who’s acquired the matches?”
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Friedman: “All people’s attempting to be actually cautious right here. However one of many issues that a number of folks have advised me is, to not be shocked if this performs out over subsequent season with Marner in Toronto.
Now, there’s a number of time between right here after which and issues can all the time change however that is such a fragile dialog between participant and group as a result of everybody is set to seem like a winner right here.
The Leafs are decided to both make a great commerce or with the cap room that’s created by that commerce, do one thing large that they know they’ll’t afford to have a swing and a large number with this one. And in addition the participant is set, and extra importantly, the folks across the participant are decided to do that, that make themselves look good, that they’re not going to conform to something that they assume places them in a nasty mild. So it is a actually sophisticated factor getting in.
I need to throw a pair different factors on the market to you. Primary, I feel that there’s some actual concern about how the Toronto followers will react to Marner if he begins subsequent 12 months, unsigned. And you may’t keep away from that, and you realize, some folks and me, I’m the type of one that’s like, look if you wish to guess on your self, guess on your self. I’ve been on myself earlier than. Different folks have guess on themselves earlier than. If that’s what Marner needs to do, I feel he has all the best on the planet to do it.
However he has to know that among the fan base isn’t going to react very nicely to that and it’s a must to play by which might be you comfy with that? Are you able to deal with that? And I do imagine that’s one of many issues that’s been mentioned.
And I feel with the Maple Leafs, the opposite subject that they’re coping with right here and I feel there are folks within the group who really feel very strongly about this, is that they traded Nazem Kadri a few years in the past after they had been mad at him. And look, Kadri acquired suspended twice in a row. There, there are individuals who felt very strongly on the time that they needed to make that commerce. However Nazem Kadri went elsewhere, sorted himself out, was a important member of a Stanley Cup champion, and is a participant that Toronto very a lot missed after he left. And I feel there are folks within the group who’re taking a look at this and imagine might this be Kadri 2.
The place Marner goes elsewhere, the highlight is much less intense. He learns the right way to steadiness all the pieces and goes out and turns into a key participant on a Stanley Cup champion in one other metropolis. Which I do imagine might occur. To me that could be a very official factor. That Marner might go elsewhere quieter and actually thrive.
I feel he’s a terrific participant. And I feel he might grow to be a good higher participant with out the highlight. And I do assume there are folks within the group who’re very terrified of the potential of that occuring. And I feel that’s a part of the background to all this.
So seem like, if the contract calls for on either side are loopy. It’s going to result in an eventual divorce anyway. However I, I’ve to inform you, I, I don’t assume there’s a sure manner, I do know there’s individuals are like 100% he’s getting traded. On Sunday, June the 2nd, I don’t know that I’m so sure of that.
And I feel one of many greatest challenges listed below are going to be the, form of like the emotions of all people concerned. I simply assume that that is going to take a number of diplomacy for lots of people to do correctly.”
Marek: “This can be a, you’re proper, it is a delicate one. You all the time run the chance on this scenario of going into subsequent season, clearly with no contract after which right here come the howls of, I’ll simply be blunt Elliotte, Muskoka 5 the sequel.
And the way do you deal with skating by that? Such as you bear in mind when that occurred, and people had been some you realize, veteran gamers with some fairly stiff spines. , Mats Sundin, Bryan McCabe and Darcy Tucker.
I feel for those who’re each you’re the participant and the group, I don’t assume you need the participant to undergo that and I don’t assume you need the group to undergo that. That’s why this one has the potential to be a firecracker. And that’s why I agree with you once I say this one is a very difficult one.”
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Friedman: “Yeah.”
Marek: “… to kind out.”
Friedman: “Yeah. As a result of anytime there’s a report that paints one facet in a nasty mild or says this one particular person has to do that.”
Marek: “Sure.”
Friedman: “I feel folks get their backs up.”
Marek: “I agree. All proper. That could be a story that won’t go away.”