Extending Mitch Marner during the regular season is a commitment to mediocrity. Look, I’m not saying that a Mitch Marner extension is a bad thing or harms the teamm and I want to be very clear that this has nothing to do with Mitch Marner as a person or a player.

Asked about the state of extension talks with not only Marner but John Tavares and pending RFA Matthew Knies earlier this month, Leafs GM Brad Treliving said, “Those are things that we always are looking at and talking about and rumbling around, but nothing to report right now.”

Former NHL player and current analyst Paul Bissonnette believes the Toronto Maple Leafs should consider a bold move next summer. As Bissonnette explained on Tuesday, the Maple Leafs should pursue the signing of new Carolina Hurricanes forward Mikko Rantanen if he gets to free agency and Toronto lets Mitch Marner walk.

If there is one trade that has shocked many, it is that of Mikko Rantanen. Seeing that the Colorado Avalanche received not only Martin Necas, but also Jack Drury, Taylor Hall, and a few draft picks must please the club.

Auston Matthews and William Nylander have been Toronto Maple Leafs teammates for nine seasons. They've displayed elite chemistry throughout their time together.

The 27-year-old had two helpers in Toronto's 4-3 overtime win over New Jersey, assisting on the team's third goal and William Nylander's winner in the extra frame. He moves past the 700-point mark and is the fastest player in Maple Leafs history to that feat.

There are two possible worlds for Marner. He goes to the 4 Nations Face-Off and dominates, the Leafs take a couple of rounds, he’s just as good at the Olympics and everybody agrees it was a near miss with that guy. The other world is more of the same.

Maple Leafs forward William Nylander helped secure a 4-3 overtime win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. Nylander’s sister, Ella, was in attendance at the Scotiabank Arena on the night.

Leafs star Mitch Marner is in the midst of one of his best seasons, and the 27-year-old was the catalyst of a 5-3 victory over the Lightning.

The Four Nations Face-Off gives plenty of reason for NHL fans–particularly Toronto Maple Leafs fans–to be invested in the tournament. The Maple Leafs are one of just two NHL franchises that will be represented on all four squads.

You can look to John Tavares and Matthew Knies’ imminent returns and hope they can spark the lineup, but this is still a team with Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner. Offence should not be this difficult and they have the raw talent to at least make games interesting. Tonight was far from it.

Squaring off with nearly identical records entering Wednesday’s contest, the Toronto Maple Leafs were presented with a key opportunity to get out of a rut against a quality Minnesota Wild team, with a four-game road trip on the horizon before the 4 Nations Face-Off break.