Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on the 32 Ideas: The Podcast – The Cup Last 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 title and this received’t get a lot consideration. Mitch Marner. Just 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 everyone is absolutely 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 just a few folks have advised me is, to not be stunned if this performs out over subsequent season with Marner in Toronto.
Now, there’s a whole lot of time between right here after which and issues can at all times change however that is such a fragile dialog between participant and staff as a result of everybody is set to appear to be a winner right here.
The Leafs are decided to both make a superb commerce or with the cap room that’s created by that commerce, do one thing massive that they know they will’t afford to have a swing and a multitude 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 this can be a actually sophisticated factor getting into.
I wish 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 yr, unsigned. And you may’t keep away from that, and , some folks and me, I’m the form of one who’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 desires to do, I feel he has all the appropriate on the earth to do it.
However he has to grasp that among the fan base is just not going to react very effectively to that and you must play via which are 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 difficulty 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 once they have 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 some place else, sorted himself out, was a essential 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 this and imagine might this be Kadri 2.
The place Marner goes some place else, the highlight is much less intense. He learns tips on how to steadiness the whole lot 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 may be a very professional factor. That Marner might go some place else quieter and actually thrive.
I feel he’s an incredible participant. And I feel he might turn into a good higher participant with out the highlight. And I do assume there are folks within the group who’re very terrified of the opportunity of that occuring. And I feel that’s a part of the background to all this.
So appear to be, 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 let you know, I, I don’t assume there’s a sure means, I do know there’s persons 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 largest challenges listed below are going to be the, form of like the sentiments of everyone concerned. I simply assume that that is going to take a whole lot of diplomacy for lots of people to do correctly.”
Marek: “It is a, you’re proper, this can be a delicate one. You at all times run the chance on this state of affairs of going into subsequent season, clearly with out a 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 via that? Such as you keep in mind when that occurred, and people have been some , veteran gamers with some fairly stiff spines. You recognize, Mats Sundin, Bryan McCabe and Darcy Tucker.
I feel in case you’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 staff 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 type out.”
Friedman: “Yeah. As a result of anytime there’s a report that paints one facet in a nasty mild or says this one individual has to do that.”
Marek: “Sure.”
Friedman: “I feel folks get their backs up.”
Marek: “I agree. All proper. That may be a story that won’t go away.”
