Insider says players declined signing in Toronto due to Mitch Marner situation

It seems like after this most recent playoffs, the trajectory of many teams have shifted a lot. The Leafs have been made a mockery out of, with their playoff performance issues showing up again. This has lead to the many Marner trade rumours, in an honestly ugly situation. It seems like not only have fans notice the gravity of these rumours, but also players.

Elliotte Friedman states that players are hesitant to play with the Leafs due to the Marner rumours, as it is a move that could drastically alter the trajectory of the franchise.

The Leafs used to be a team that would be an ideal destination for players looking to win now. But now with failure after failure in the postseason, it seems like things have flipped.

This is the opposite of the story of the Oilers, who were always known as playoff chokers. It used to be so hard to convince players to come to the Oilers, even at the start of McDavid's tenure there. But now after a Stanley Cup Finals berth, it seems like everyone wants to be an Oiler.

This season, tons of players have been happy to be a part of the Oilers, with some even taking pay cuts to join the team. It seems like the Leafs and Oilers have fully switched positions, with Edmonton now being the premier Canadian destination for most players. Edmonton has had a huge change in outlook from players, with things looking up for the Oilers in the future.