NHL News: Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews’ Maple Leafs have reportedly gone past point of no return

Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs have truly gone through the wringer during the 2024-25 NHL season. Clearly, the high-pressure and buzz surrounding the organization took its toll on every player. Determined to find a change of scenery, Marner’s decision to leave is all but set in stone. While both sides initially wanted to end in good terms, reports suggest Marner may walk away—leaving a sour taste in the mouths of Auston Matthews and the rest of the organization.

Drama seems never-ending in Toronto as the end of an era looms over the organization. The former fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, Marner was meant to be the homegrown savior. Yet—once a love-at-first-sight story—Marner’s time with the Maple Leafs is now slipping away, grain by grain, like sand through an hourglass.

The ending is shaping up to be a rough one, too. Matthews and the rest of the team appear to have made peace with the inevitable. Still, many fans hold out hope for a last-minute solution. Others, having lost faith, feel a sense of relief at the wonderkid’s impending departure. The topic sparks as many opinions as there are Maple Leafs fans—but one thing is clear: it’s the talk of the town in Toronto.

Apparently, the two parties are now knee-deep in tug-of-war-style negotiations. Seemingly well past the point of no return, there’s no going back now. The relationship between Marner and the Leafs’ organization is hanging by a thread, with neither side willing to give in.

Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates during the second period in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“The Marner-Leafs relationship is ‘frosty’ right now, with neither side trying to do the other any favours,” NHL insider Frank Seravalli stated during the latest Daily Faceoff Live podcast. “Sign and trade [scenario is] unlikely but not out of realm of possibilities.”

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Auston Matthews’ Maple Leafs reportedly retaining star players to aid Mitch Marner’s impending exit from Toronto

One-and-done

Marner is looking more like a lost battle by the minute. The Leafs are well aware of it, and word has spread in the NHL: Marner will most surely be up for the taking. Regardless, the Maple Leafs have other pivotal free agency decisions to address. They are mostly focused on John Tavares and Matthew Knies, whose contracts expire on July 1st.

On that note, Toronto decided moving on from one franchise player was enough. The Maple Leafs have no desire to try their luck with the former captain and the 22-year-old breakout player.

Per reports from insider James Mirtle during an appearance on TSN 1050 Toronto, the Maple Leafs expect John Tavares and Matthew Knies to sign their contract extensions in the next week or two.