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As speculation swirls around Mitch Marner’s future with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Canadian hockey legend and current analyst Don Cherry made his stance on the pending free agent clear.
According to Cherry, Toronto should not let Marner walk. Instead, the Leafs should sign him to a long-term deal.
Speaking on episode 309 of "The Don Cherry's Grapevine Podcast," Cherry was direct when asked whether the Leafs should re-sign the 28-year-old winger.
"They should sign him," Cherry said. "There's a lot of teams that want him."
Marner, who recorded 102 points this season, is weeks away from becoming an unrestricted free agent if no extension is reached before July 1.
The winger declined to commit to returning during Toronto’s end-of-season media availability, repeatedly saying the Game 7 playoff loss to the Florida Panthers was “still so fresh” and that he needed time to think.
"I've always loved my time here. I've loved being here," Marner said on the team's locker clean-out day. "Like I said to you guys the other night, I have been so grateful and, you know, haven't processed anything yet.
"It's still so fresh and losing sucks."
Marner’s playoff production (63 points in 70 games for an average of 0.90 points per game) has often drawn criticism, despite his career regular-season totals of 741 points in 657 games (1.13).
Coach Craig Berube, however, praised his impact.
"I love the guy and love coaching him," Berube said. "He’s a hell of a player."
Unless Toronto acts soon, Marner will become the top name on the free agent market this summer, as there will be "leaguewide" interest in the winger, according to multiple reports.
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What’s He Waiting For?: McDavid Has a Question No One Can Answer
NHL insider Frank Seravalli appeared on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer and discussed what might be going through the mind of Connor McDavid as he works through a decision on his future. Seravalli says the delay has created an uncomfortable situation for all involved, because the hope was that this extension would be done by now. The hold-up seems to be McDavid trying to get answers to a question no one can answer. Seravalli says there is one hole in McDavid’s resume. As one of the most accomplished hockey players ever to walk planet Earth, he’s gotten as close as any player and team could over the last two years. It eats away at him that he hasn’t been able to add a Stanley Cup to every other accomplishment in his NHL career. Seravalli says his decision isn’t about money, a logo, a city, or the weather. And, just because the team was good in the past, he wants to be sure that the focus and vision of this team is going to be the premier team in the league for the next several years. However long it ends up being, that he’s going to commit for, he wants to know the Oilers are going to be in the championship mix. But, as Seravalli notes, that part is a little bit more difficult to answer because there isn’t anyone on Earth who can answer with any degree of certainty. “Sports are weird,” he said. Meaning, even the best teams can be eliminated by someone else in a seven-game series. Will McDavid Stay Loyal If No One Can Provide a Guarantee? Elliotte Friedman also commented on the McDavid situation on Monday. He said that, with all things being equal, “I just don’t see him leaving that group, who he’s very loyal to.” Friedman talked about how much McDavid loves his teammates. He’s best friends with Leon Draisaitl, loves Calvin Pickard as a teammate, respects and has time for Mattias Ekholm, and Darnell Nurse. He’s close to Zach Hyman. There are pieces here that McDavid would have a hard time leaving. So, if no one can demonstrate to McDavid that they can help him get a Stanley Cup — which no one can — does McDavid re-sign with the Oilers? They have as good a chance as anyone to help him get there again. If Edmonton isn’t giving him the best odds? Who is? Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne of the Kyper and Bourne show argued that it might not matter if McDavid just wants to leave Edmonton. Neither said they believed that to be the case, only that it was a possibility that shouldn’t be ignored. They also added that there are flaws in a lot of hockey clubs, and any team acquiring McDavid in a trade is giving up solid players to land him. McDavid Likely Signs a Discount with the Oilers There is a way that McDavid can up the Oilers’ odds. His pending extension has NHL insiders debating whether he’ll take less than expected to help Edmonton stay competitive. Elliotte Friedman suggested a lower deal is possible, which one GM said could reshape the league’s contract landscape. A deal at around $15 million per season would impact other free agents, but it would give the Oilers a better chance to add pieces that help McDavid get closer to that final piece missing from his puzzle.
Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman has message for Chris Ash after Purdue game
The defense has been the story of No. 24 Notre Dame through the first three games of the season. First-year defensive coordinator Chris Ash has struggled to pick up where Al Golden left the unit when he bolted for the Cincinnati Bengals after the national championship game. On Saturday, the Irish defense gave up 23 points to Purdue in the first half before Notre Dame ran away in the second half to win their first game of the season 56-30 in front of 77,622 fans at Notre Dame Stadium. Following the contest, Irish head coach Marcus Freeman told the media that Ash needed to do a better job of matching pressure with his coverage scheme. "Marcus Freeman says Notre Dame needs to do a better job of 'marrying up' coverage with pressure from the defensive front," wrote Tyler Horka of On3 Sports. Notre Dame was panicking on defense Freeman added that the defense was panicking when they changed coverage schemes, but couldn't stop Purdue in the first half. Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne diced up the zone coverage, much like Marcel Reed did in Texas A M's 41-40 win over the Irish in Week 2. Freeman defended Ash after the loss to the Aggies, saying the defense's execution was more important than the play calling. The head coach had the same message for his players after beating Purdue. "I don't think they're confused," Freeman said of the defense. "We just aren't executing. But it isn't like our guys don't know what they're doing. They know what they're doing." Freshman quarterback CJ Carr and the offense look capable of going undefeated for the rest of the regular season and competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. But the defense is going to have to get better if they want to play meaningful football in December-January. Notre Dame's defense was a problem in Week 1 in Miami. Even though the Hurricanes were held to 27 points, Miami could have put up more points if quarterback Carson Beck had been allowed to play as aggressively in the fourth quarter as he had earlier in the game. When Ash calls zone, he's going to have to find a way to generate a pass-rush. All three quarterbacks Notre Dame has faced this season have shown an ability to find open spots in the secondary when they have time to throw in the pocket.
Pete Carroll opens up about an idea that everyone has regarding the biggest issue with the team's offense
The worst part about the Las Vegas Raiders offense has to be the offensive line, a position group that the Raiders didn't address really at all outside of the 2025 NFL Draft, and even those two draft picks aren't seeing the field. The offensive line hasn't been great at pass blocking for former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, but that isn't the worst part of the unit's game. They can't run block at all, which is why Ashton Jeanty isn't having much success. And that could be due to the changes the Raiders staff made to the offensive line. The right guys aren't playing. "We want to see JPJ [Jackson Powers-Johnson] come back to action and get back involved. In all phases of it, we have to get off the football better and make more of the running game. There's not enough happening there to act on the play pass game, and we're just not getting enough. So, we just got to keep working it. We got the guys we got, and we need to keep developing and keep building on it. We're working at the right guard spot. Our young guys, they'll get their turn sometime, but they're not ready yet. So, we have what we have, and we've got to make our guys do better, and we've got to fit it together better than we have." The Raiders' offensive line has much deeper issues at hand JPJ didn't start the game against the Washington Commanders this last week, despite being healthy and recovered from his concussion. Carroll noted that the decision between him and Cappa came down to the continuity and that the Raiders were on a short week. But Cappa is not very good. The former Cincinnati Bengals guard led the league in blown blocks with 40 and led the league in pressures allowed last season. Last year, Jackson Powers-Johnson was one of the best young centers in the league. He had his rookie moments, but by the end of the season, he had some moments where he was pancaking defenders in the second level on run plays. His move to center last season is when he really started to take over, rather than when he was playing guard. This offseason, the Raiders decided to not only move him away from the center position but to put him in a position battle at the guard spot. JPJ may be the second-best offensive lineman on the team, and yet, the Raiders have something weird going on with him. Yes, he was hurt, but he recovered, and there is no reason why he shouldn't have started. By the end of last season, the Raiders' offensive line really started to put things together. So, why would Pete Carroll's son, Brennan Carroll, mess all of that up as the offensive line coach? Something's going on with the offensive line, and it's truly affecting the entire offense. Yes, the unit isn't very good, but they are making it even harder on themselves by playing the wrong players. When your defense is bad, offense is bad, and special teams are bad, it's hard to beat anyone. Add that into the fact that the offensive line is atrocious and winning football games looks impossible, despite the fact they've already won one against the New England Patriots. window.addEventListener('message', function (event) {if (event.data.totalpoll event.data.totalpoll.action === 'resizeHeight') {document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-365').height = event.data.totalpoll.value;}}, false);document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-365').contentWindow.postMessage({totalpoll: {action: 'requestHeight'}}, '*');
Rival Teams 'Upset' With Dodgers Due to Shohei Ohtani Rule
However the Dodgers decide to use star pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani in the postseason, the generational talent gives LA a massive advantage. Because of a unique rule that applies only to players as unique as Ohtani, the Dodgers could turn their superstar into an even bigger advantage. Every team in MLB is limited to a maximum playoff roster of 26 players, with no more than 13 spots reserved for pitchers. Ohtani will be able to enter the postseason as a designated hitter and will not take up one of the 13 spots as a pitcher despite the Dodgers planning on utilizing Ohtani as a starting pitcher. "Teams are upset that the Dodgers will have one more pitcher than everyone else on their roster since there’s a special exemption for Shohei Ohtani as a two-way player," USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote. "If Ohtani is a starting pitcher, he can remain in the game as a DH once he’s replaced on the mound. But if he starts the game as a DH and pitches out of the bullpen, the Dodgers would lose the DH once his relief appearance is over. The only way Ohtani could stay in the game would be moving to the outfield, where he hasn’t played since 2021." Ohtani has expressed his willingness to play in the outfield if it means giving the Dodgers a roster advantage in the postseason. However, it is likely, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, that Ohtani will not be making a surprise appearance in the outfield. One factor that will be at play with Ohtani's ability to contrtibute as a starting pitcher will be his longevity. After recovering from a torn UCL in the 2023 season and serving as a designated hitter exclusively in 2024, Ohtani returned to the mound in 2025. While Ohtani has performed well with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP, he hasn't pitched more than five innings in a single start. Ohtani's limited use is a strategy by the Dodgers to save their superstar's arm for the big moments that are offered in October. Ohtani has one more scheduled start for the regular season when the Dodgers travel to Arizona to face the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. Latest Dodgers News
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