TORONTO (Nov. 30) — Let me start, today, by repeating the impetus for my last blog: If the Maple Leafs allow Mitch Marner to don another National Hockey League jersey, it will be the largest blunder in franchise history. Bigger than trading Frank Mahovlich. Bigger than Lanny McDonald. Bigger than anything the club has lost. Ever.
The irony of my opening sentence should be apparent to all within Leafs Nation: The club has zero control over whichever path Marner chooses, having ceded management of the critical issue to the player with a full, no–movement clause. In other words, mis–management of the highest order. The No. 1 objective, therefore, should be to minimize the chance of Marner walking, next summer, as an unrestricted free agent. Again, understanding the player makes the final call, there could be an opportunity, at the moment, for the Maple Leafs to preserve some honor in this situation. By discussing a trade with the New York Rangers that would never be executed were the circumstances equal. But, one that, today, offers benefit to all parties — the Leafs, the Rangers and Marner.
If I were Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, I’d be on the phone to Rangers counterpart Chris Drury. My bid would be: “Chris, if I can get Marner to waive his no–move for your team, would [Chris] Kreider agree to come to us?” Simple and to the point. The aforementioned Chris Kreider is a 33–year–old vet with the Blueshirts, coming off seasons of 39, 36 and 52 goals. He’s in the midst of a seven–year, $45.5 million contract signed with the Rangers in 2020 that encompasses a modest $6.5 million of cap space per season. In the final three years of the pact, Kreider can present the Rangers a 15–team, no–trade list. Which, for the purpose of this blog, would obviously have to exclude Toronto. If Kreider consents to a deal, Treliving then approaches Marner, thusly: “Look, Mitch, we can trade your negotiating rights to the Rangers for Chris Kreider. I think New York would make you a wonderful contract offer beyond this season. We understand it’s up to you. All I would ask, if you’re willing to contemplate, is an answer within 72 hours.” If Marner says “okay, let me think about it”, Treliving telephones Drury with the news. Both clubs — and Kreider — hold their breath for up to three days. Hardly the end of civilization.
Now, again, were everything equal, the Leafs would not consider swapping Marner, 27, for a player six years his senior. Particularly given how well Marner has performed during much of November in the absence of Auston Matthews. Sadly for the Leafs, this doesn’t appear to be a circumstance that can drag on toward the NHL trade deadline. The Rangers need the maximum time available with Marner’s negotiating rights before July 1. Acquiring said privileges in the next week, rather than three months from now, is a virtual necessity. New York has underachieved this season after starting as a prime Stanley Cup contender. At a pedestrian 13–9–1 for 27 points, the Rangers need a spark. Can you envision a more–explosive one than Mitch Marner? Meantime, the Leafs would acquire a veteran with nine goals this season… and zero assists. Kreider, too, might benefit from a jersey swap.
What the Leafs would lose in artistry and production, they would gain in playoff experience and savvy. Over the past three years, Kreider has appeared in 43 post–season games, contributing 24 goals and 14 assists for 38 points. During the same period, Marner has skated in 25 playoff matches, accruing six goals, 19 assists and 25 points. Again, very possibly a good trade for both teams — the Leafs, today; the Rangers in the upcoming decade. Toronto wouldn’t likely sustain a rapid decrease in scoring. A front forward line of Matthews, Kreider and William Nylander would rank among the top units in the Eastern Conference; possibly the entire NHL. So, there is no logic for the Maple Leafs to remain idle on the Marner front. As the saying goes: nothing ventured, nothing gained.
O.J. SIMPSON AND THE ’94 RANGERS
During mid–June of 1994, I was in New York with my then–wife, Susan, for a wedding on her side of the family. It was held at the LaGuardia Airport Marriott. We arrived a few days early so I could cover Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final at Madison Square Garden. For The FAN–1430, as the radio station was known. The Rangers held a commanding, 3–1 lead over the Vancouver Canucks and all of New York was preparing for a celebration. TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT! screamed the front page of the New York Post, superimposed over an image of the Stanley Cup. Alas, the Canucks (coached by Pat Quinn) chose to not cooperate. They coughed up a 3–0 lead in the third period; the Rangers nearly bringing down the old arena with goals, in a 5:35 span, by Doug Lidster, Steve Larmer and Mark Messier. But, the crowd — still standing and cheering — watched in horror as Pavel Bure clicked for the visitors just 29 seconds later. Geoff Courtnall and Bure added goals for a stunning, 6–3 Vancouver triumph (it remains among the most–incredible playoff games I covered during my 23–year career in radio).
The wedding was held on the Saturday night of Game 6, at the old Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. Again, the Canucks faced elimination. Again, they survived, with a convincing 4–1 victory. Setting up a decisive match, three nights later, at the Garden. Susan went home after the wedding and I moved from the LaGuardia Marriot into the old Sheraton on 53rd St. I was therefore in New York not only when the Rangers won their first Stanley Cup in 54 years… but also when the O.J. Simpson story broke. That the Hall–of–Fame running back with the Buffalo Bills was a suspect in a double–murder that involved his ex–wife, Nicole Brown. It occurred in Brentwood, an upscale neighborhood of west Los Angeles, during the overnight hours of June 12–23, 1994 and immediately became nationwide news. Evolving, as we know, into a nine–month trial covered, gavel–to–gavel, by Court TV for the world to watch. The so–called Trial of the Century that ended with Simpson walking free amid a mountain of physical and forensic evidence pointing toward him… and no one else. I’ve kept the tabloids purchased while in New York:
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