Ever since the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs the talk around hockey circles has been about how to change the team, whether the culture needs an adjustment and if a change is coming could it involve one of the Core Four.
Well, recently Spittin' Chiclets podcast cohost, as well as The NHL on TNT analyst Paul Bissonnette, indicated that he has heard through sources that the Maple Leafs, Marner & his camp are working on an extension to keep the 27-year-old right winger around for the foreseeable future.
The news of Marner's impending extension with the Maple Leafs isn't surprising. After Craig Berube was hired he was seen in a coffee shop with the new bench boss and it is believed that Berube wants and believes that he can help Marner with his game so he can be an impactful player in all facets of the game moving forward.
Although entirely understandable, it has been a little unfair that Marner has received the criticism he has faced in the media and from fans alike who are just tired and hungry for the franchise to win. With the insertion of a new regime behind the bench and another year of Brad Treliving and company in the board room, it's possible that in the next number of years, the team looks different anyway and again although watching Marner has been and can be frustrating, as one of the more consistent players the last 8 years, why would the team even consider letting him go?
While it's evident that something needs to be done to change what ails the team, maybe trading Marner isn't the solution everyone wants and expects to happen. With about nine weeks left of summer, it will be interesting to see what management can do to set the team up for success next season and move forward but don't bet on anything earth-shattering.
