Marner vs. Rantanen: “It’s Different” Says NHL Insider

The Toronto Maple Leafs likely saw the deal stuck between the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen and asked themselves if they were playing their situation with Mitch Marner the right way. The Avs chose to move on from a legitimate superstar because they couldn’t find common ground on an extension. As painful as it was to move on, the Avalanche picked up a solid return and gave themselves cap space to do more. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs are waiting on Mitch Marner, risking that he may leave in free agency and the team gets nothing.

---

---

Marner is set to become a UFA this offseason. It makes sense that the Leafs would consider trading him before the March 7 trade deadline, assuming contract talks fail to lead to a new deal.

Colorado received forwards Jack Drury and Martin Necas, along with a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from Carolina. It’s certainly a fair return (no way Colorado gets the best player in the deal) and they have room to do more. Their approach was that the sum of the parts was greater than the whole of Rantanen. Should the Maple Leafs be taking the same approach?

The Rantanen and Marner Situations Are Different, Says an NHL Insider

Marner, 27, is said to want to remain in Toronto. It’s not clear if he’ll take a team-friendly deal to stay, but the expectation is that he’ll shave a little off his extension to stick with his hometown team.

But, as Adam Proteau of The Hockey News suggested, sending Marner to the Vancouver Canucks for center Elias Pettersson or to Utah Hockey Club for winger Clayton Keller might be good business.

NHL insider Darren Dreger explained on TSN’s First Up that the Marner situation and the Rantanen situation are not the same. He noted, “It is different. Mitch Marner has full protection; he would have to waive (his no-trade clause).” Rantanen had a nine-team no-trade clause. That gave the Avs a little leverage.

Dreger also noted that Marner knows his chances of winning a Stanley Cup are as good in Toronto as they are anywhere else. There is no incentive for him to waive.

"I think the Leafs want to sign Marner and by all indications, he wants to stay"

This morning on #FirstUp, @DarrenDreger explained why the situation between Mitch Marner and Mikko Rantanen is different and why we aren't likely to see a trade involving Marner. pic.twitter.com/WEDHBp5WqM

— First Up (@FirstUp1050) January 27, 2025

---

Dreger added, “And here is the number one reason why I don’t see it. I think that Toronto very much wants to sign Marner, and by all indications, he wants to stay and be a life-long Toronto Maple Leaf.”

The difference between Rantanen and Marner is that the Leafs are ready to talk deal and will continue to remain open to an extension. In Colorado, it sounded like the Avalanche had stopped talking to Rantanen and made up their mind to move on when he mentioned his ask.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Morning Roundup: Jets, Senators, Avalanche, Rangers