Maple Leafs' Treliving identifies top priority as Mitch Marner rumours swirl

LAS VEGAS — The Toronto Maple Leafs' actions will speak much louder than their words.

General manager Brad Treliving politely and calmly held court with reporters for 12 minutes Wednesday afternoon at a Las Vegas hotel and said nothing surprising or particularly enlightening.

The man was an unlit firework, keeping any combustibility tucked tight.

So, with the NHL Draft set for Friday and free agency opening Monday and meaningful trades already popping off here and there, fans and pundits sit and wait patiently for substantial Maple Leafs roster news to explode.

Because, sooner or later, that lit fuse will erupt.

"We've got a lot of work to do," Treliving understated, addressing the gathered media. "We do have some cap space. But you look at the holes we have to fill, and it goes quickly."

With the cap ceiling (finally) making a significant leap to $88 million, Treliving has roughly $18.8 million in wiggle room to compensate his pending RFAs (Timothy Liljegren and Nick Robertson), make decisions on his own UFAs (Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, Joel Edmundson, Ilya Lyubushkin, Mark Giordano, Martin Jones, Matt Murray, John Klingberg), then round out the roster on the open market and via trade.

The executive's main priority should tell you all you need to know about where the elephant in the room stands, though.

At Treliving's pre-draft availabilities last June, he spoke at length about how critical it was for the organization to lock up all-star forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander to long-term extensions. (Mission accomplished.) 

This time around, Treliving emphasized a much different priority — despite 99-point right wing Mitch Marner sitting in the same contractual position as his peers were a year ago.

"I don't think it's a secret: Our defence is an area we'd like to see if we can improve. Easier said than done," Treliving stated. 

"The right side of our defence, we'd like to help it. Now, at what cost?"

In terms of reliable, everyday defencemen, the Maple Leafs have just three under contract: Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe, and Simon Benoit. (Seventh man Conor Timmins is in the fold, too.)

Treliving has been scouring a dry trade landscape and rich (but not top-heavy) free agency market for blueliner, particularly those who can play the right side.

Chris Tanev, Brandon Montour, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, Matt Roy, Matt Dumba... name a UFA who can patrol the right side, and we'll guarantee Treliving has inquired. (Floated our way recently: The GM might even consider bringing back Klingberg at a reduced rate, after investing heavily in his hip rehabilitation.)

The suitors for defenceman who can log top-four minutes are just as plentiful, though, which should drive prices. The risk of overpaying for an unknown commodity is real. It's why a club like Winnipeg surveyed the market and simply reupped Dylan DeMelo, who would've been a fine partner for Morgan Rielly.

Defence is not the only hole, though. Far from it. 

Someone up front must pick up the production Bertuzzi and Domi provided if they get their cheques elsewhere. 

And while we're high on the potential of prospect Easton Cowan making a big-league impact and sophomore Matthew Knies taking another step, we're not convinced that'll be enough in 2025.

Which is why you hear the Leafs poking around on second-tier wingers like David Perron (who won a Cup with new head coach Craig Berube) and Jake DeBrusk (who is headed to market).

Then there is the question of goaltending, which the Florida Panthers just proved doesn't always hurt to pay for.

Treliving swung and missed on trade target Jacob Markstrom (now increasing the likelihood of Sheldon Keefe's playoff streak in New Jersey), and Linus Ullmark (Ottawa) and Darcy Kuemper (Los Angeles) also have new homes.

The UFA market is razor thin — peaking with capable backups and 1Bs like Laurent Brossoit, Anthony Stolarz, and Cam Talbot — which partially explains Kevin Weekes' report that Treliving is interested in fast-tracking a three-year extension for Joseph Woll in the $3.5- to $4-million AAV range after a mere 39 games of big-league experience.

"We feel like we got a real good goalie," Treliving said of Woll, excellent when not injured. "You study that: Is there a pattern?"

The GM conceded that Denis Hildeby is still on a developmental path. He needs to look outside for Woll's partner.

As for Toronto's first-round draft pick Friday, Treliving is "not opposed" to dealing the 23rd-overall choice for immediate roster help (the pick was considered on the table in the failed Markstrom deal) or to acquire multiple picks. But he is "more than likely" going to make a pick when the Leafs are on the clock.

Toronto is undoubtedly on the clock with Marner, whom Treliving has never publicly expressed a desire to re-sign.

Whether that clock winds past July 1, when Marner's juicy signing bonus kicks in; or past training camp, when the questions escalate; or past trade deadline, when playoff rosters get set; or Canada Day 2025, when Marner is free to sign anywhere for — what? — $12.5 million a year is anybody's guess.

The player holds a full no-move clause and has a major say in charting his own future, in case you haven't heard.

Ever the diplomat, Treliving's feet may be kicking like mad under the surface as he tries to find a solution that frees up the necessary cap space to fulfill his other roster needs, but the GM is projecting calm above it.

He has yet to exert any public pressure on the player, and we'd be surprised if he does.

No matter how many rumours fly or how antsy Leaf Nation gets to see a resolution here.

"Mitch is a superstar in the league," Treliving said. "I'd caution us to not pay too much attention to some of the noise. We can't react to all of this. 

"You can't control the rumours that are out there."

What you can control are the signings you make and the trades you pull off.

And that is where Treliving will be judged over the coming days and through the first Toronto off-season he's had fair time to prepare for. 

Not by how he handles a press conference about nothing.