Elliotte Friedman details Maple Leafs players’ reaction to Marner/Rantanen drama at 2025 deadline
Although the article goes back to Marner’s early days with the Maple Leafs, before the contract drama or playoff failures, he dropped some interesting tidbits about the atmosphere surrounding the Maple Leafs as they tested the waters on a potential three-team trade involving Marner and then-Colorado Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen. In the piece, Friedman highlighted the speculation fatigue of Marner’s teammates, as well as the shock of realizing no negotiations were taking place between the two sides.
The Leafs suspected his interest in Vegas and tried a threesome with the Golden Knights and Hurricanes. There just wasn’t a match. About eight hours before the trade deadline, they were told Rantanen would not be coming north. Twenty-four hours later the story broke. Teammates had two reactions. First, “Oh God, we thought the trade deadline meant this was all over.” And second, “Wait, there are no ongoing negotiations? There’s no contract being discussed at all?” It was then that other players realized the true circumstances. -Friedman
The Maple Leafs apparently went back to work and kept playing, leaving this speculation in the rearview mirror, but it’s hard to imagine this information not staying with them at all in the months that followed.
Friedman also dropped an interesting nugget from the time of the calendar change that season, noting that there was belief Marner would have been interested in a move that would have sent him out west.
According to multiple sources, the Maple Leafs were told sometime before the new year by Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, that the winger might consider a trade with a Western Conference contender. (Ferris did not agree to be interviewed for this story.) No specific team and it wasn’t a demand, but the message was received. -Friedman
Of course, this is disputed information at this point, as no such trade occurred, but it is interesting to note that these conversations had been developing long before Rantanen was made available.
You could argue that this is all insignificant information now that it’s been almost a year since all this drama unfolded, but it’s intriguing information to know with Marner’s impending return to Toronto.
PRESENTED BY OFF THE ROSTER
#Elliotte #Friedman #details #Maple #Leafs #players #reaction #MarnerRantanen #drama #deadline