Quoting: CapFriendlysFinest
They don't have to, the worry is they will. Brad seemingly just gave Willy a blank cheque and I worry he would do the same for Marner.
As for comparing teams that buy these players during the deadline, those guys might be on the team for 2 months max, there isn't that long standing connection that is built between team, coaches, fans, etc.
Marner is born and raised, has been drafted and spent his entire career here, wants to be here and has inspired so many fans to become Maple Leaf fans. Letting him walk would have a massive backlash among the community and team.
The idea of trading him at least there is a return that could mend the relationship between the fans / team. And sure, there are players that have been born, raised, drafted and spent their whole career with a team, but none at the value of Marner over the past 20 years. Yet, you and I both know that Marner won't move his NMC which is why I named this an unrealistic off-season.
Fans realize or should that UFA players have the right to sign anywhere. There is no obligation for the player to resign or the team to resign him. Look at the Leafs.....Full of UFAs from other teams, Bertuzzi, Domi, Tavares, Kampf, Jarnkrok, Reaves, Brodie, Benoit, Samsonov . There weren't be a backlash as the just look at the new guys on the team. "Letting him walk" is kinda of a silly point. Teams don't "let" a player sign with another team, it's the players choice.
Marner is an impossible trade. Contending teams don't have the cap for him. Poor teams don't trade for him, because they aren't giving up anything good, they could just spend the 11m for Marner on other players and keep; the assets.
By the way, why do say Marner "wants to be here". It's might be his preferred destination, but let's say if he offered 2m more than the Leafs a year for seven years by another team. Then we might know he truly "wants to be here"