TORONTO (May 26) — Nothing in sports media should surprise me anymore. Not after writing or speaking about the Toronto Maple Leafs for the past 35 years. But, I have to admit: I’m astonished at the number of reputable correspondents claiming, in all sincerity, that the Leafs’ brass will “make life miserable” for Mitch Marner next season.

If, of course, the little winger doesn’t cave and renounce the full, no–movement clause negotiated with former general manager Kyle Dubas. In the final two years of his current pact, which spans all of the 2024–25 National Hockey League schedule. After which, Marner can choose where he wants to continue his career, at a number the Leafs simply will not be able to afford under the salary cap. To prevent such an inevitability, scribes and pundits are proposing that the four–headed Maple Leafs monster — Keith Pelley, Brendan Shanahan, Brad Treliving and Craig Berube — concoct a scheme to browbeat Marner out of the city. Perhaps by inquiring with former defenseman Stephane Robidas about a vacancy on the “Island”. And, whether Joffrey Lupul has recovered from the sports hernia sustained in the Autumn of 2017 (it can be stubborn). Would the Leafs play Lou Lamoriello’s game with a 99–point forward holding all the cards? Or, does the club plan on riding it out one more year with the same lead actors in an effort to craft another 100–point season? Then, take a ninth run (unbelievable though it sounds) at making some legitimate noise in the playoffs. Remember, there are close to 19,000 seats sold for each game at the highest ticket–stipend in the NHL. To eliminate Marner for simply following the provisions of his contract would be to severely depreciate the product. And, would send a disastrous message to pending free agents: “Stand clear of the Leafs; they pay nicely but otherwise capitulate to external forces and treat their players like garbage.”

Others, of course, would argue the absurdity of such a claim given how the club relented to the Big 3 in contract negotiations. If you are not Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Victor Hedman (and several others) — with Stanley Cups on your résumé — how do you command a full no–move in the final two years of a pact, especially your first in the NHL? Credit, therefore, agent Darren Ferris of Quartexx Management for sensing a weakness in Dubas and going for the kill. But, remember also that Shanahan signed off on the Marner deal. So, we cannot blanketly admonish Dubas. Ferris has been around the block a few times. It’s almost certain that he and Marner’s father, Paul, have considered every scenario the Leafs could deploy, particularly the Robidas Island scam, whereby players under contract, but no longer valued (resulting from injury or decline in performance), are placed on “permanent” Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR), freeing up cap space. How it was possible, with a Players Association, for Lamoriello to simply wave goodbye to Lupul, Robidas and Jared Cowan (as did Treliving this season to John Klingberg) is a mystery. Sure, they were paid, but could not suit up in the NHL. The Leafs owned them and told them to have a nice life. Would Treliving do this to Marner? Could he do it to Marner without Shanahan’s consent?

Or, are the big hockey decisions on Bay Street now required to pass by Pelley’s desk?

Some have gone so far as to offer the idiotic suggestion that the Leafs will make Marner a repeated healthy scratch. For maximal anguish and torment. But, how might that help the club, which would still need to pay Marner his full salary, all of it counting against the cap? And, as mentioned, why would Pelley and Co. deliberately weaken next year’s team? Do people actually think before postulating the absurd? Or, does it just flow naturally?

The flip side is also conceivable. There’s no way Marner, during his media exit interview, would have asked out of town. Instead, and predictably, he plead allegiance to the flag. But, perhaps the true story is different.

Maybe Mitch and his wife, Stephanie, have privately considered a change of scenery. A nighttime glance at the TV every 48 hours brings the Edmonton Oilers into Marner’s living room. Surely, it reminds him how moving from the Leafs as a free agent has evolved so splendidly for Zach Hyman and his bride, Alanna. Not that a position on Connor McDavid’s flank will be available to Marner. Still, there are many teams in the NHL on which Mitch would be the top attraction. And, best player. Couldn’t, for example, the San Jose Sharks rebuild their program around Marner? Would he not be an instant fan favorite in Salt Lake City, where the NHL sets up shop next season? The western–U.S. markets have been foundering in recent years. Which isn’t healthy for the NHL. Los Angeles improved this past season but is not a legitimate Cup contender. San Jose, Anaheim and Arizona (now Utah) are plainly awful. An electrifying talent such as Marner would breathe life into any of these non–traditional venues.

THE SAN JOSE MARKET, A GOOD FIND FOR THE NHL, HAS BEEN LAGGING IN RECENT YEARS WITH THE SHARKS OUTSIDE OF PLAYOFF CONTENTION. WOULDN’T MITCH MARNER HELP BREATHE LIFE INTO THE 33–YEAR–OLD FRANCHISE?

The point I’m making is that neither the Leafs nor Marner have to dig in. The transition to his next NHL team doesn’t need to be acrimonious. Perhaps Mitch would be amenable to providing Treliving a list of 10 clubs for which he would waive his no–movement clause. Thereby allowing the Toronto manager a reasonable chance to negotiate a swap. Neither is there a deadline to make a deal… until the actual deadline, next March. It would alleviate the burden of a trade partner; that club needing to pay Marner’s salary (and remaining cap figure) for only the last five weeks of the schedule. Conversely, if a team is hoping to center its program around Marner, a trade this summer could materialize. San Jose, as an example, is swimming in cap space with $38,170,833 available to spend. So, too, is Utah at $43,264,524. Anaheim is more than $33 million under the cap. Even the Kings have $19.9 million to offer (all figures courtesy of capfriendly.com). Again, I’m focusing on the western–U.S. teams, most of which could use a hockey headliner. Such as a 100–point forward still approaching his prime. Maybe the notion of leaving practice in flip–flops and shorts (rather than the layers of winter) appeals to Mitch and Stephanie.

The money will be available… just not from the Maple Leafs.

Some may wonder why a team would acquire the $11 million contract of a player whose performance regresses in Stanley Cup toil. Particularly, the final year of that contract, leading to potential free agency. That’s more of a concern in a place like Toronto, where the arena would fill to watch 20 chimpanzees play hockey. In a less–traditional market, with a need to sell tickets during the long regular season, there is also the importance of a star attraction.

Despite all the kooky talk, I anticipate a measured approach by both sides.

Remember, if the Leafs do something stupid and piss off Marner, he can tell them to shove it. That nothing will dissuade him from sticking it out through next season, after which he will resentfully leave the club emptyhanded.

Alternatively, Shanahan and Treliving — if they haven’t already done so — can respectfully inform the Marner camp that the Leafs will not be offering a contract extension beyond next season (July 1 is the earliest date for such an overture). And, if Mitch and Stephanie would rather go to a team that may consider a long–term arrangement, Brendan, Brad and the Leafs would work diligently toward a swap. All the club needs is permission… and, likely, a list of 8–12 cities to which Marner would accept a trade. It can all be done in a copacetic environment.

The unspoken option is the Leafs somehow finding cap space to offer Marner an extension, thereby securing three skaters in the Core–4 (Tavares being odd man out). I wouldn’t put this one past Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, seeing how obstinate the company has been with a losing playoff hand. But, neither do I give it much of a chance owing to the cryptic confessions of the brass during its end–of–season conclave. Fundamental change is on the menu. At last. And, no team makes a schematic alteration with third and fourth–line skaters.

The ritual sacrifice everyone anticipated after the playoff loss to the Bruins removed coach Sheldon Keefe from the picture and brought in Craig Berube. Which, as written in my last blog, could develop into something of a wild card. On the surface, Berube and Marner seem like an odd couple. Very odd. Kind of like John Brophy and Miroslav Frycer — both now gone — during the late–1980’s. The hardnosed bench boss and his gifted, yet sensitive forward. If Marner is having night sweats over a quasi–return to the Mike Babcock era, Ferris will provide Treliving a list of 31 NHL cities. “Just get us outta here,” will be the message. Otherwise, I cannot imagine the relationship between Marner and the Maple Leafs eroding as a result of something cheap. Such as trying to strong–arm or intimidate the player and his agent with line–up scratches and long minutes on the bench. There are likely provisions against such manipulation in his expiring contract with the Leafs.  Any nonsense along these lines, of course, will ensure that Marner retains his no–movement clause and vetoes all trade proposals by the club.

Isn’t it odd that we have credible scribes and broadcasters proposing these shoddy tactics?

The Leafs need to deal with players on the straight and narrow. Like professionals. Not louts.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM