Top NHL Insider Drops Major News on Mitch Marner and His Desire to Return to the Leafs

With Mitch Marner in the market for a new contract, there have been all sorts of reports about where he wants to go this summer.

The Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers have been at the top of the list. Although the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings have also been floated as potential destinations.

Interestingly enough, insiders have largely ignored the possibility of Marner returning to Toronto to run it back for the next eight years.

That all changed with a report from The Fourth Period. They acknowledged that Marner is likely to explore free agency.

However, the report also states that Marner hasn't ruled out a return. Instead, he just wants to see what his options are now that teams will be gunning for him.

Overall, the Leafs are a team in a very interesting position right now. While they continue to have regular-season success, they haven't done anything in the postseason.

Unfortunately, Marner has been part of the problem. In big playoff games, he evaporates. Sure, 102 points of production in the regular season is great, but if you're nowhere to be seen when it matters, then you have to be cut loose.

It is a hard pill to swallow, but even if Mitch wants to stay, it might be better for the Leafs to just move on and look elsewhere.

These are the kinds of decisions general manager Brad Treliving must make this week. However, he did say he wanted to change the DNA of this team. Getting rid of Mitch Marner would be the perfect way to do that.