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.

Mitch Marner addressed reports the Toronto Maple Leafs asked the star winger to waive his no-movement clause and accept a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes, indicating he wasn’t surprised and that he “had a feeling something might happen.