"Tampa Bay's backup plan all along was to replace the money for Stamkos with free-agent
Jake Guentzel's new contract. A similar scenario could play out for Toronto with pending free agents such as
Mikko Rantanen,
Sam Bennett or Brad Marchand, providing they are still available on July 1."
Marchand is the name that sticks out like a sore thumb here. It is hard to believe he would ever want to be a Maple Leafs player. That said, it is one of those scenarios that one could only have dreams or maybe even nightmares about. Stranger things have certainly happened in the NHL.
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Source: Maple Leafs Daily
NHL Insider Believes the Maple Leafs May Already Have a Contingency Plan if Mitch Marner Walks