TORONTO (Mar. 10) — There are a number of seminal dates in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Apr. 11, 2014 is fast–rising in prominence. It was the day Brendan Shanahan became president of the hockey club.

The Hall–of–Fame power forward brought energy and design to a stale franchise that had missed the playoffs in a full, 82–game schedule for a staggering eight consecutive years. His strategy required the team to bottom out for a couple of seasons — hardly a chore for the abysmal Leafs — thereby increasing lottery odds in the National Hockey League draft. It seemed to work, as the club procured William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews in consecutive summers. More than a decade later, though, it appears the Maple Leafs chose a poor amalgam of skill and stoicism. As a group (bolstered by free agent John Tavares in 2018), these gifted performers have been monumentally disappointing when the stakes increase, capturing one playoff round in eight years.

With an absurd ninth attempt on the horizon, the mixture has become contaminated. Another date, therefore, must ascend in the pantheon of significant moments: Sep. 13, 2019, when Marner, coming off entry level, accepted his first NHL contract: six years and $65.358 million with a cap hit of $10,903,000. The kicker — and this is all on Shanahan — was approving a full no–movement clause in the final two years of the arrangement. That for a restricted free agent who could play nowhere but Toronto… and whose playoff contributions were minuscule. Marner had no leverage other than withholding his services. Still, they gave him the keys and the yacht and told him “you decide if and when to sail.” Such full contract control would never be relinquished by a club not mesmerized by its own folly. Or, a team with a rational, long–term plan. And, if so, it would be reserved for the most–elite performers; multiple Stanley Cup winners (see Sidney Crosby). Yielding its right to manage Marner’s future set the tone for what we see today: a war of attrition between a pampered athlete and a stubborn, conflicted team. All of which is reflected in the parochial headlines; each side claiming to be passionately in love with the other. The bullshit just drips off the news pages and TV screens. Only a moron would take to heart the balderdash from either party.

 
If the Leafs “want Mitch here” for a long time, why did they try to unload him on Carolina last Friday? You think they’d pull that on the real prince, No. 34? Even for Mikko Rantanen? Give me a break. Marner has become the enemy because he is last man standing amid the failed playoff core. Matthews and Nylander are lucratively locked in, whether or not they hit “Cruise Control” after mid–April. With Marner, the Leafs have done… nothing. I suspect that Shanahan and Treliving have yet to tender Darren Ferris a concrete, long–term proposal. Both parties strongly implied over the weekend that serious negotiation, if there is to be, will occur after the playoffs. Which is sensible from the club’s perspective, yet rather galling to Marner and Ferris. I don’t know if Mitch wants to stay here beyond the current season. When he talks robotically through clenched teeth, it’s difficult to draw intention. All players suggest, at one time, they would like to remain with their incumbent team heading toward the trade deadline or free agency. Many of them are lying. In this case, I’ve come to believe that Marner truly wants to remain alongside Matthews and Nylander, yet knows that he’ll need to accept less than market value. There’s not a chance in hell the Leafs will pay him as much as Matthews ($14 million base salary), yet Mitch will certainly fetch that amount elsewhere in free agency. He has full control over everything except the Leafs not wanting him back.

Which, at his apparent asking price, seems rather clear.

If the Leafs hadn’t already spoiled Matthews and Nylander, straight money wouldn’t be an issue. The Core–3 would be proportionately under contract beneath the McDavids, Draisaitls and MacKinnons of the world, all of whom have at least played for the Stanley Cup. Instead, we have inner–competition among athletes that have routinely withered in the post–season slog, yet insist on being paid more than the next guy. It’s an uncompromising situation hatched on that September day in 2019 when Shanahan and Kyle Dubas bowed at the feet of Marner and Ferris. Two years of control at the end of your first NHL contract. With no playoff résumé. What standard was there for Marner to attain before asking for another exhorbitant commitment from the Maple Leafs: a single, undeserving series triumph over Tampa Bay before getting destroyed by Florida? These guys, as a group, have done zippo in the big, pressure moments. Consider, again, that five times in the past six years, Toronto has been eliminated in the decisive match of a playoff (or, play in) series. In each of those games, the Leafs have scored one goal. Forcing their netminder to pitch a shutout for a regulation win. It hasn’t worked. Yet, the prime culprits, whose hands turn to clay in the clutch, want to be the loftiest–paid trio in the NHL. Something doesn’t add up.

As usual, most fans are siding with the team. It’s a hockey epidemic in these parts. Even if history shows how the Maple Leafs have routinely eaten their own. From Frank Mahovlich… to Dave Keon… Mike Walton… Lanny McDonald… Darryl Sittler… Rick Vaive… Russ Courtnall… Wendel Clark… Doug Gilmour… Curtis Joseph… Dion Phaneuf… Phil Kessel… Zach Hyman… and, now, Marner. All of whom have — or will — leave the team in dubious, conflicting circumstances. Yet, it’s always the player’s fault. In this case, the writing has long been on the wall. Barring an unforeseen march through the Eastern playoffs in which the big forwards suddenly dominate, this Core–4 thing has to be blown to smithereens. Why, then, would the Leafs commit anything to Marner beforehand?

The entire situation has been gruesomely mismanaged; each side wavering. While the Maple Leafs will suffer the embarrassment of a 100–point player walking as a free agent this summer, neither is there justification to unite Marner long–term with Matthews and Nylander. Yet, losing Marner for zilch — the probable outcome — will reflect poorly on the club for the decision Shanahan approved nearly 5½ years ago, handing an unaccomplished playoff performer full control at the end of his first NHL contract.

You can pin this one directly on the boss.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM