Brad Treliving Gets Brutally Honest About Mitch Marner Negotiations

Marner is now under contract with the Golden Knights for the next 8 years with an AAV (average annual value) of $12 million, a $1.1 million raise over the $10.9 million he was making per year under his previous contract in Toronto.

Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, who has already re-signed forwards John Tavares and Matthew Knies to new contracts, shed some more light on the behind-the-scenes work that he did with Marner's representation on a potential new deal and how it didn't come to fruition.

We approached Mitch's camp, even from the time I got here, about what his plans were. Those were always to be a Leaf. At the appropriate time, when we could, we approached him about engaging in a contract discussion. They made it clear that they wanted to wait.

As you go through that process, if you have been in the business long enough, you have gut feels about how things are going to go. By no means do I criticize the player. It is the player's right.

Treliving also touched on when Marner refused to waive his no-trade clause in March to facilitate a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes that would have sent Mikko Rantanen to the Maple Leafs.

You look at other options. Mitch negotiated a No-Movement Clause, which is fully in his rights. When we look at opportunities to move on or opportunities for potential transactions, at the end of the day, Mitch held the cards.

Marner ends his Maple Leafs tenure with 741 points (221G, 520A) in 657 career games.