Maple Leafs Must Move Quickly to Secure Superstar Before Time Runs Out, Per NHL Analyst
The Toronto Maple Leafs have to be proactive when it comes to re-signing Mitch Marner, and the earlier it is, the better it is for everyone.
With Mitch Marner's contract coming to an end this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a very tough decision to make in regards to keeping the dynamic forward or let him walk because he's too expensive.
But according to NHL analyst Kevin Papetti, if Toronto were to take a proactive approach it could not only save a headache come summertime, but possible save them some money too.
How Signing Mitch Marner Now Will Be Cheaper For Toronto
It's expected that Marner is going to command a fairly sizable salary given how elite he is, not to mention the torrid pace he's been on this season. With 36 points in 25 games, Marner has been Toronto's best forward and proven he's worth every penny of his next deal.
However Toronto's hesitancy to wait until the playoffs are over might cost them, and Marner's camp is one known to be a bit contentious when it comes to potential contract talks. If Toronto shows Marner they trust him enough to let him run the offense, and it leads to success then he might take a small discount.
A discount though is going to still come at a cost of $12.75M per season, though it might be hard to persuade him if they don't get over the internal cap they have with Auston Matthews.
Yes he's the best goal-scorer in the world, but Marner is more than just a compliment to Matthews, and he plays better without him statistically. If you look at Leon Draisaitl's contract situation, he's getting paid more than the world's greatest player, so there's already precedent for Toronto.
Plus Toronto can afford to get rid of their bloated contracts like Calle Jarnkrok, David Kampf, and Ryan Reaves.
John Tavares is going to also take a discount to stay in town, plus the salary cap is going to rise albeit not to an extraordinary level.
Being proactive with Mitch Marner's contract is not just thinking about a future without him, but it involves doing a lot of negotiation, and a lot of trust on both sides that this deal is the best for Marner and his future; perhaps a Stanley Cup could help him make a decision a bit easier too.
| POLL | ||
Should the Toronto Maple Leafs act quickly and re-sign Mitch Marner now? | ||
| Yes! You can't wait! | 380 | 79 % |
| No, he's too expensive | 101 | 21 % |
| List of polls | ||
