NHL insider Frank Seravalli is praying that the Leafs won't overpay Mitch Marner when his contract expires at the end of this season, leaving many fans concerned. The Toronto Maple Leafs have an important decision with respect to Mitch Marner's future in the not-so-distant future. At season's end, it will be time for the organization to determine if they will commit to a large contract extension or not for the star winger. According to NHL Insider Frank Seravalli, paying Marner a premium salary may not be the most intelligent thing for the franchise to do. He suggests that with what the Leafs have for a roster and their cap situation at this time, paying big money for Marner should be reconsidered. For years now, Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and William Nylander have constituted the backbone of offense for the Maple Leafs Core Four. While this core has had plenty of regular-season success, it cannot be said about its playoff success. It's been building up over the last couple of years since Toronto has made it through the first round only once. This now brings it to a point where there will be <a href='https://www.hockeypatrol.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/frank-seravalli-paying-mitch-marner-would-be-the-maple-leafs-biggest-mistake' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>immense pressure to perform</a>in the postseason, and a question can be raised as to whether sticking with this high-priced core is the right approach or if changes have to be made in order to break the playoff shortcomings cycle. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/FAN590/status/1806045701526421756'> </a></blockquote></div> You can't take anything away from Marner's individual contributions since being drafted fourth overall in 2015. He has been an elite regular season player, with 639 points in 576 games played. However, as far as the playoffs, well, it has been a totally different story. He underperforms frequently in big games, especially in Game 7 situations. The thought of committing close to $12 million a year to a player who hasn't proven his worth in the most critical situations raises suspicions among fans and analysts alike. One of the huge concerns regarding Marner is how much cap space his new contract would take up. With other key players saying they want to be with the team for the long haul, there are some serious financial constraints to think about. Besides, the Leafs are loaded with offensive firepower already, and spending heavily to get one more forward might further worsen their chances of strengthening other very vital areas. One of the most important positions in hockey is goaltending, and the Leafs cannot fall short in that category just to overpay for Marner. Top-tier players in that position who could become available in 2025 may be the ones worth spending the resources on instead of Marner. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/HockeyPatrol/status/1841108869117821176'> </a></blockquote></div> The Maple Leafs <a href='https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/frank_seravalli_paying_mitch_marner_would_be_the_maple_leafs_biggest_mistake/s1_17430_40983500' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>have to make a decision</a> that is best for Mitch Marner's future. Sure, he has his talent, but the franchise just needs to really think of the big picture, which is constructing a well-balanced team that can perform better during the playoffs. Spending too much on just one player will defeat their purpose, especially when that one player hasn't taken them over the mound in those crucial moments. The right decision at the right time may eventually alter the course of their future to a more promising avenue.