In a move that has stunned many fans and insiders alike, Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving has confirmed that star winger Mitch Marner will remain with the team, ending weeks of swirling trade speculation. The news broke on the *Locked On The Leafs* podcast, where Treliving gave a rare, candid interview addressing the failed trade negotiations with the Vegas Golden Knights.
“It wasn’t for lack of interest,” Treliving said. “We had real conversations. But at the end of the day, Mitch is a Leaf. And there’s something about that that still matters.”
Marner, who has been the focus of trade rumors since the Leafs’ early playoff exit, was reportedly close to being dealt to Vegas in what insiders say was a “blockbuster-level” deal. Talks fell through late last week over undisclosed sticking points, but Treliving remained tight-lipped on the specifics.
The GM’s confirmation of Marner staying in Toronto comes as both surprising and relieving for many in Leafs Nation, who feared the team was preparing for a major shake-up. With one year left on Marner’s contract, speculation had reached a fever pitch, fueled by the winger’s mixed playoff performances and the club’s persistent cap pressures.
Still, Treliving insists the decision was more than just contractual math.
“This is a guy who bleeds blue and white,” he said. “He wants to win here, and we want him to win here.”
Sources close to the situation say the Leafs are now working on a possible extension for Marner, aiming to lock him in long-term — though nothing is imminent.
For now, at least, Mitch Marner remains a Toronto Maple Leaf. And for fans still licking their wounds from another postseason disappointment, the idea of running it back — with one of their brightest stars still in tow — is a welcome twist.
As Treliving put it: “This chapter’s not done yet.”
