From rumors of signing a contract extension with the Leafs earlier this season to rumors of him wanting to leave, Mitch Marner has had it all. Even as the Toronto Maple Leafs reached out to his camp to sign a contract extension, Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, wasn’t too keen on it. And as any good agent would suggest, Ferris wanted his player to enter free agency. Moreover, ahead of the trade deadline, there were rumors that Marner would sign for the Hurricanes. While that didn’t happen, renowned NHL analyst Paul Bissonnette weighed in on the whole situation.

Earlier today, a new episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast dropped where Bissonnette gave his views about Marner switching his allegiance to another team. Bissonnette acknowledged the fact that Marner may leave because of how open the Maple Leafs were to a trade when the Hurricanes came calling. That too when Marner has been having one of his best seasons in the NHL, scoring 21 goals and 59 assists, putting him in joint third spot for most assists this season. Explaining why Marner might want to leave, Bissonnette said, “I think it [potential Hurricanes trade] completely waives out the possibility that Mitch Marner takes any form of a hometown discount, which I don’t blame him now at this point for being asked from my understanding, in the summertime about it and prior situations where he’s has been asked to be moved.”

To Bissonnette asking Marner to waive his NMC, represented enough of a loss of faith that Marner may see it as a sign to leave the Leafs once he hits UFA status this summer. But he also went on to praise Marner’s performances while under the looming threat of a move elsewhere, “I think that the way that he’s performed so far this year under the gun of knowing that his contract’s up and the potential of being asked to be moved or signing somewhere else has been remarkable.”

However, Bissonnette wasn’t the only one who talked about Marner’s trade rumors as his potential exit from the Maple Leafs stirs up speculation. Even Marner’s teammate, Auston Matthews, opened up about the right winger possibly leaving the team. He revealed,  He’s handled things great. There’s certain things that are out of your control, and that’s one of them. It is what it is. I don’t know really what else to say about it.”

Even as his teammates backed him to stay with the Maple Leafs, Marner’s body language tells another story. As a result, another NHL analyst believed that Marner had already left the side from Toronto.

Will Mitch Marner stay or go?

Earlier today, Marner played a crucial role in the Maple Leafs’ thrilling victory over Utah 4-3. Marner provided an assist and had some interesting moments in the game. However, NHL analyst, JD Bunkis sensed that Marner’s heart was elsewhere and may have enough of a reason to leave his hometown team.

Speaking on Sportsnet’s Leafs Talk, Bunkis said, “The way this feels like this is leaning is, if this team is out early, he’s gone no matter what. The lean here right now is—I think he is going to be a goner. I just don’t have a lot of faith he will be back.” Like Bissonnette, Bunkis also believed that the Maple Leafs playoff performances this season would play a deciding role in Marner’s future. An early round exit coupled with an under performance could very well spell the end.

But Bunkis shared an additional reason as to why Mitch Marner may end his time in Hogtown. “It doesn’t feel like he has gotten the love; it’s always Matthews’ team. The market loves Nylander, they forgive him. And the market loves Matthews. I think (Marner) would love to get paid a ton of money because that is a way to show where your standing is within the league.”

Nonetheless, the Maple Leafs fans know that Marner staying with them is crucial for their Stanley Cup chances this season and in the future. Do you think that Marner would shrug off the rumors and sign a contract extension with the Maple Leafs? Let us know your views in the comments below.