Maple Leafs GM Bracing for Mitch Marner's Major Free Agency Decision

The 27-year-old winger is coming off a 102-point, career-best season with the Maple Leafs.

In what could have been his final year wearing the white and blue sweater, Marner broke the 100-point barrier for the first time in his nine years with the franchise and added 13 points in 13 playoff games.

If he decides to enter free agency, which feels like a fait accompli at this point, Marner will be unarguably the best player available in the open market, with Daily Faceoff projecting him to land a seven-year, $91 million deal.

Treliving did not rule out a meeting with Marner’s camp next week but made it clear that, barring a surprise, the Leafs are preparing for life without their star.

“I don’t know if it’s an opportunity (to find a one-for-one Marner replacement) when he’s leaving," Treliving said. "There’s cap space available, so that leads us to how are we going to use that. There’s not a Mitch Marner tree you go to and just replace him.”

Throughout nine seasons in Toronto, Marner has scored 741 points in 657 regular-season games (1.12 points per game), but his postseason production has lacked in comparison with the winger notching 50 points in 70 (0.71) playoff games.

“We’ll see how everything goes,” Treliving said.