The front office has already decided to make Marner a lifetime Leaf, and Marner has stated repeatedly he wants to remain in Toronto.

With the next NHL free agency season coming just around the corner, one Eastern Conference rival has just emerged in the sweepstakes for star Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner.

Zeisberger, who joins co-hosts Dan Rosen and Shawn P. Roarke midway into the episode, gives some of the particulars on how the Maple Leafs asked the forward if he'd be willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to the Carolina Hurricanes in a trade for forward Mikko Rantanen.

Nearly two years ago, the Leafs lost leverage in the Mitch Marner contract situation and set the stage for Mikko Rantanen deadline talks.

NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun spoke on TSN's OverDrive program on Thursday and explained the circumstances surround Mitch Marner's contract situation. The talk surrounding Mitch Marner is getting more and more heated each passing day.

NHL analyst Paul Bissonnette believes the Toronto Maple Leafs could look to replace Mitch Marner with a rival forward.

Mitch Marner scored the deciding goal in the shootout and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Utah Hockey Club 4-3.

NHL analyst JD Bunkis believes the star winger is likely to leave in free agency, given everything that has percolated from the Maple Leafs environment during the past few weeks and months. Bunkis appeared on Sportsnet's "Leafs Talk" show on Sunday and said that, in his eyes, the situation is "leaning" toward a Marner exit from Toronto next summer.