As Mitch Marner enters the final season of his contract, the Toronto Maple Leafs face a tough decision on when to sign an extension. NHL insider Chris Johnston suggests waiting until after a potential Stanley Cup win.
Bollywood Fever: As Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Mitch Marner enters the final season of his $65.4 million contract, the franchise is confronted with a challenging situation that echoes recent history.
Just last season, the Leafs navigated a similar predicament with fellow star forward William Nylander, who played through the season without an extension before eventually signing an eight-year, $92 million deal in January 2024.
NHL insider Chris Johnston shared his thoughts on the timing of a potential contract extension for Marner during an appearance on TSN’s OverDrive show on August 26.
Johnston suggested that the ideal scenario for the Maple Leafs would be to ink Marner’s extension after winning the Stanley Cup in June 2025—if the team can reach that pinnacle.
“The perfect time would be after you win a Stanley Cup next June and you make that announcement,” Johnston said, acknowledging the optimism and ambition required for such a plan.
However, Johnston also recognized the risks of waiting too long to secure a deal, particularly the fear of losing Marner without any return if an agreement isn’t reached in time. “There would be concern about losing the player for nothing—that’s kind of where they got to last year with Nylander,” Johnston noted.
The idea of waiting until after a potential Stanley Cup victory to sign Marner would undoubtedly be a bold move.
While Marner had a strong regular season last year, posting 85 points in 69 games, his playoff performance was underwhelming, managing only 3 points in 7 games.
Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that Toronto hasn’t reached the Stanley Cup Final since their last championship win in 1967.
As the Maple Leafs weigh their options, the decision on Marner’s future will likely hinge on both the team’s performance this season and their broader ambitions.
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