Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas talks Mitch Marner, Jake Gardiner, and Nikita Zaitsev
Mitch Marner
Dave McCarthy: Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas on if they are hopeful to get RFA Mitch Marner signed before July 1st.
“I’m always hopeful but Mitch has his rights. It’s not on Mitch to free us up, he has his rights. He has been a fantastic player for us & person for us.”
Pierre LeBrun: Marner’s agent Darren Ferris didn’t meet with GM Dubas in Vancouver. There is still lots of time to meet this week.
Jake Gardiner
Maple Leafs Hot Stove: Maple Leafs GM Dubas on the possibility of re-signing defenseman Jake Gardiner:
“We still don’t have that amount of space … We would like to continue to keep that on the front burner, but until we solve Mitch’s situation, it is impossible to engage with anybody.”
Nikita Zaitsev
Dave McCarthy: GM Dubas said that there is no guarantee that they will trade Nikita Zaitsev this offseason.
“I don’t think it’s guaranteed at all. We’ve told them we will try to work with them but if we can’t return a defenseman back and can’t stay equal or improve the team, he will be back with the team.”
Maple Leafs Hot Stove: Dubas on if there is an update on Zaitsev’s situation.
“At this point, it is the status quo. The way we are looking at it, as I said in Buffalo at the combine, we are willing to try to accommodate and work with him, but we need a similar player back. We don’t have the depth on D and we don’t want to rush our prospects, so that is what has been communicated to Dan Milstein.”