Leafs' Summer Spending & Marner Murmurs with James Mirtle | JD Bunkis Podcast

James Mirtle, senior managing editor at The Athletic, joins JD Bunkis to discuss how the NHL’s salary cap inflation could impact the Leafs’ off-season plans, potential free agent targets for Toronto, and the latest buzz surrounding Mitch Marner.
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#NHL #Hockey #MapleLeafs

[@BigWyatt]

Hey JD bunkis, my second favorite leaf’s show after RKB, keep up the great content my dude, I’m fascinated by the marner situation

[@timmanto1022]

Even as a Sens fan I'm fascinated by the leafs.

[@boomboom-hi5np]

​@timmanto1022 That's because the Leafs live in Sens fans' head rent free

[@jamesbruce8749]

They NEED a #1 goalie and at least a # 2-3 defense men. The cap hit can be blurred ask, Vegas

[@people3865]

This is unrealistic. Everyone says this, and it's just regurgitated nonsense. Only 5 or so REAL #1 goalies are in the league. You aren't getting them. That many defenceman is impossible.

[@user-sn8sw2vi8z]

Marner and ? To Islanders for Barzal and Sorokin. Marner and ? For Saros Marner and ? For McCann and Vince Dunn

[@PWS1717]

The mess that Dubas created will take a few more years to undo

[@duncanmac2195]

The mess goes into 2026. No picks next year and a 2nd and a 4th in 2026 are gone. We got guys like Knies, Robertson in the 2nd round and Cowan was a late first. We blew our boat too soon and now have no pull next TD. We are free agents or player for player trades next year. We also have no 2nd(bad idea this draft lots of D and C) and no 3rd(Woll). Point is our prospect pool is weak and needs restocking. As time goes on having young and cheap guys ready to go is important. By the way we need defensemen really bad. Only Niemela looks an NHL er to me.

[@Parmen0901]

Think the plan always was that last year was a treading water year until they got more cap flexibility starting July 1st.

[@RobFazekas-ky2ow]

If treliving could resign domi and bertuzzi then dip there toes into free agency and get pesce tanev and zadorov I would be happy with that until next free agency where they get a couple more bigger UFA Cowan minten and knies are going to make a awesome third line holmberg will be great on the 4 th line

[@JohnCherry69]

The cap is 88 mil not 108

[@duncanmac2195]

They dont have the money for all of that. If they sign 2 very good dmen thats like $15 Million gone.

[@johnpaulgeorgeandringo3559]

Marner knows the Leafs are suckers and are willing to pay him any amount. No other team in their right mind, would do that.

[@duncanmac2195]

They made a choice when they overpaid Nylander. They wont be resigning him unless its sign and trade. They also wont care if he walks when they only win one round either. You look at the East and the Leafs need 4 good players to advance. 1 very good goalie, 2 very good dmen and a top 6 playoff guy. Cowan will make the Leafs forget Marners first name.

[@wizzerwiser2056]

@@duncanmac2195 You're too far ahead of yourself on Easton Cowen. Still young and has to develop. Marner's junior career was better than Cowen's

[@wizzerwiser2056]

@@duncanmac2195 SMFH how Nylander got well over a million more than his initial asking price.

[@curtismuise3300]

Marner holds the cards.

[@wizzerwiser2056]

No he doesn't.

[@Blake-jz5bh]

@@wizzerwiser2056yes he does he has the power to stay this year if he wants

[@wizzerwiser2056]

@@Blake-jz5bh And he will. He has the right to. But him being traded doesn't make the team better.

[@bryanskiffington1868]

Good thing you're not the leafs gm. Leafs need to deal with Matthew's Marner and Nylander and trade JT who created the mess.

[@SeanNimportance]

We Need Saros , Not 2,1B goalies We Need to Do This Right Need a 1A Goalie & 1B Goalie to win the Cup 💙🤍🤍💙✈️

[@TysonGould-td2wh]

Saskatoon Sk NHL team .

[@jfriedgaming1800]

If Mitch wants to be a leaf, take a 1 year deal for 5 max and earn your next contract when the cap goes up again and help your hometown team win a cup

[@wizzerwiser2056]

Everyone wants to be ample Leaf when the money is right. Marner will get paid next off season.

[@macleanclassics]

Mathews and Nylander new deals already ate the cap increase. If marner won't waive, The leafs best bet is to run it back for next season with some smaller tweaks, then blow it up when they can next year.... Yes, even if Marner just walks.

[@stewdumplings7847]

I would trade mathews, Reilly, marner, Taveras, in a heart beat for less marketable playoff performers. Wont be flashy in the regular season but at least we would show up in the fall.

[@MikeyBrisson]

Skjei is absolutely not worth 7M or a 1st pair D like what???

[@duncanmac2195]

Wont happen. They always throw Toronto in to drive up prices. Pesche, Zadorov and Tanev will be the targets. Everyone will want Montour..too expensive.

[@TysonGould-td2wh]

Let's Go boys a Saskatoon Sk NHL team . The Saskatoon Hawks or Crusaders or Chiefs or Reapers haha

[@duncanmac2195]

Thats what I always thought. Sask can hold a team easy.

[@user-sn8sw2vi8z]

Don’t want a old 35-36 yr old Tanev 👴🏼👴🏼👴🏼👎👎👎

[@user-sn8sw2vi8z]

Trade Marner to try to get Saros or Sorokin.

[@duncanmac2195]

It will be a team of Marners choice.

[@jimlangdon1947]

Leafs main priority to address is Matthews weak skills to generate assists - not even in the top 25 now. That weakness gets exposed in the playoffs - no playoff runs

[@JohnCherry69]

apparently you did not watch any games when Marner was out and Matthews played with Domi and Bertuzzi. Hence, they are addressing the problem

[@ed230]

Their not even close to contending for a cup ....you going to beat Florida lol good luck

[@stewdumplings7847]

Marner must go his game evaporates in the playoffs. Spineless losers dont win cups. Let him walk the cap space will be worth it. Yes he is really good in the regular season but way to weak for playoffs.

[@AR-wm9lv]

Leafs need a #1 goalie more than anything. And it's not even close. Please!!! Please!!! For the love of God, enough with the trash goalies already

[@people3865]

Like who!!! Who's available!!!

[@AR-wm9lv]

@@people3865 That's the GM's job to figure out

[@people3865]

@@AR-wm9lv You say, knowing full well it's impossible, but trying to sound like you know something lmao

[@AR-wm9lv]

@@people3865 I'm not trying to sound like anything. I'm hoping the Leafs get a goalie, because it's by far the most important position in hockey. Unlike you, I have a day job. Sorry

[@bradweirca]

i like matt roy too lybushkin was much better his second stint demelo is also a pro. if we buy a goaltender were condemning woll or hilleby to the bench. id rather sign jones or a veteran back up, on the cheap and use the 3 of them for starts.

[@RattleheadVic73]

The leafs need to stop cheaping out on goaltending! Woll’s injured all the time and Hildeby is a few years away

[@people3865]

​@@RattleheadVic73Why? Because they score so much its a shootout every night? Lmao.

[@RattleheadVic73]

Huh?

[@people3865]

Hildeby should be on the bench. Had a good first AHL season. That doesn't make him an NHL goalie.

[@user-pu6wn5xj5t]

I hate you guys. Get Marner. You guys nuts. Keep Tavares? Jt is the problem. And mathews is a regular season player, you guys never say that. Auston is our best player 5 game 7s 0 goals. Still like Auston but don’t put this all on Mitch, you bullies are trying to run him out of town. Trade a 100 point hockey player to keep a 11 million dollar 60 point player who is getting worse. You guys are a joke

[@JohnCherry69]

the whole team will get worse. Hence, the 22 mil salary dump of Marner and Tavares the 2 lower playoff performance guys of the 4, to make the team better. Yes , some leafs fans will dump on Marner due to his playoff performances and childish behavior. Mitch will do just fine on another team with less media coverage, smaller fan bases and just looking to sell tickets

[@patrickgmafia5216]

Rielly needs to be traded aswell. You can't pay him 7.5 until 2030 cap going up or not