Brad Treliving faces intense scrutiny after Mitch Marner's departure created a significant top-six void. Marner left via unrestricted free agency and a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights after finishing his contract year, yielding only third-line center Nicolas Roy in return. Treliving delayed re-signing or trading Marner, diminishing leverage and souring the team-player relationship. The general manager has made smaller additions such as Mattias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua but still must replace elite playmaking and reshape the roster. Expectations in Toronto remain high, and team performance and contract decisions now rest predominantly on Treliving's shoulders.
For the first time since taking over as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brad Treliving is squarely under the microscope. With Mitch Marner's departure leaving a massive hole in the top six, the pressure is on Treliving to find a suitable replacement. Replacing a player of Marner's caliber, one of the league's best playmakers, is no small task.
Marner's exit from Toronto was the first major blight on Treliving's record since taking over as general manager. Treliving kept the right winger for the final year of his contract and let him reach unrestricted free agency, where the rest of the league could make a pitch for his services. By not getting ahead of either resigning Marner or trading him during the 2024 offseason, and creating an advantageous market that could benefit the Leafs, Treliving allowed the team-player relationship to sour.
Marner bet on himself, had a great season, thereby earning a salary the Leafs might be uncomfortable giving him. A denied trade deadline request for Mikko Rantanen and another Leafs' playoff disappointment set the stage for Marner leaving via a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. Since Treliving had little leverage, the return for all-star Marner was only third-line center Nicolas Roy.
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