Insider reveals whether the Toronto Maple Leafs actually want to keep Mitch Marner

It's been a busy few days for the Toronto Maple Leafs and their front office after naming Brad Treliving as their new GM on Thursday. Of course, with it comes a lot of speculation, particularly around the ‘core 4' as they're called.

Recently, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was on the Jeff Marek show to discuss not only if the ‘core 4' would stay in Toronto but would address Mitch Marner specifically after he's faced a fair bit of criticism; take a look.


When addressing Marner, Friedman says he knows Marner take a lot of criticism from the fans and he hears it, but the Maple Leaf organization believes in him.


Marner has two years left on his current deal, so unlike Matthews and Nylander, he can't negotiate a new contract July 1st this year.

Along with fan outcries to trade Marner, he also has the added pressure of playing for his hometown team.

The Toronto Maple Leafs hope is obviously all 4 of Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares stays, but Friedman does mention that if management feels the contract negations with the 4 players take away from being able to address other roster needs, if that happens, things will change.