Must Read: The Maple Leafs ‘will do everything’ to trade 27-year-old forward by July.

The Toronto Maple Leafs plan to move Mitch Marner by July 1, according to NHL source Frank Seravalli.

Marner has been linked to trade rumors since the Maple Leafs were defeated in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Boston Bruins. With Marner nearing the final year of his six-year, $65.4 million contract, he has been connected to a number of teams. However, Marner has a full no-movement clause, which requires him to agree any deal.

But, according to Seravalli who was on Sportsnet 590 The Fan on June 24, he expects the Maple Leafs to do everything they can to trade Marner by July 1.

“This is the week; if it is going to happen, it will most likely happen this week. I believe the Toronto Maple Leafs will do everything in their ability to make things happen,” Seravalli stated on The JD Bunkis Show on Sportsnet 590 The Fan on June 24.

“Whether or not he goes for it is a different story, but I think it is the story, if you are sitting there as a Leafs fans saying this team has made the determination that it is time to move on and he’s not willing, how is it going to work out for him next year when the Leafs tell everyone, yeah we tried to move him and he said no,” says Seravalli.

As Seravalli stated, the intention is to transfer Marner before the end of June, with free agency beginning on July 1. Toronto will need to know whether Marner will be on the team next season for cap considerations, as well as who they can sign in free agency.

Marner recorded 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points in 69 regular season games last year.

Marner has said he wants to remain with the Maple Leafs, but Seravalli says that likely won’t happen. Part of the reason why Seravalli believes Marner will be traded is due to the fact he says Toronto won’t extend him.

“We are not considering extending him. Let’s take the emotion out of it and consider this as a pure asset management opportunity. You have a top-10 guy, a top-15 player in the league, and you are not extending him, which means it will be over in one year. You are not moving him at the deadline; what sense does it make to go into next season saying we are going to use the last year of his contract and let him depart for free?” Seravalli asked.

With Marner likely to not be expected to be re-signed, Seravalli is confident that will lead to the Maple Leafs trading the skilled forward and will do it rather quickly.

Following the Maple Leafs’ elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs, Marner stated at the year-end media availability that he wishes to remain in Toronto.

Marner is from the Greater Toronto Area and grew up a Maple Leafs fan, therefore he wants to stay with the franchise.

“That would be our goal. I’ve proclaimed my affection for this location, this city. Obviously, I grew up here. “I’ll start thinking about (a contract extension) now and try to work something out,” Marner said on May 6, according to The Athletic.

Marner has been with the Maple Leafs since the team selected him fourth overall in the 2015 NHL draft.