What constitutes an overpay for Marner

Team: 2019-20 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 3, 2019

Published: Aug. 3, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

94 points seems like a lot but is that all that matters? It would have won the Art Ross five years ago but this past year 94 points was good for 11th and his points per game rate was 15th for players playing at least 50 games.

The rules have changed, the game is faster and scoring is up. 31 players scored at a point per game or better last year compared to 24 the year before, 8 the year prior, 6, 8, and so on. Scoring is up.

Draisaitl, Tarasenko, Gaudreau, and Pastrnak are all high scoring wingers, all scored more points per game compared to the rest of the league in their contract years (10th, 9th, 7th, 12th), and all signed deals ranging from 6-8 years with cap hit %'s from 8.89 to 11.33% and cap hits in the 6.66 to 8.5 million range.

Then there is the Tavares factor. A 25 point jump is partially self growth, partially team growth, and partially playing with Tavares who over the last decade, is 3rd in goals and 7th in points.

I like Marner. Tavares likes Marner. Matthews and the rest of the team likes Marner. His agent REALLY likes Marner but let's be realistic here. You're not comparable to a #1 centre and I was generous with the 4 comps I used. 8 figures is an overpay at any contract length.

I gave him 11% on his 8 year deal. Yes, I know he won't take it.

Good thing Dubas cleared out all the dead money to do it.