"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."
Rantanen, Bennett, and Marchand are pretty fantastic players. One has to wonder though if these are just worst-case scenarios. It seems almost written in stone at this point that Marner will want to return. That said, a back-up plan has never hurt anyone.
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Source: Maple Leafs Daily
NHL Insider Believes the Maple Leafs May Already Have a Contingency Plan if Mitch Marner Walks