Jensen as a late bloomer probably wanted to ensure he got some good money before his hockey career ended. Guaranteed 10m....good for him. Since the Muzzin acquisition, the Leafs probably couldn't sign his anyway as a UFA.

I foresaw a backcourt next year of Rielly-Jensen, Muzzin-Mayfield, Dermott-Liljegren.

yup, just like it was mental for Nylander to get over 6 and crazy if Mathews signed for more then JT.......

Matthews is better than JT.... Nylander under 6? that woulda been the best contract in the league....

if Matthews signed at 11.6 for only 5 years why would Marner get 3million less for the same term??? only way you are getting him that cheap is if its only a couple years(like 2-3 years instead, which would at least also spread out when the contracts expire)

Well, then your no trades scenario likely is not going to work.

Make some trades and sign Marner to a 8 yr deal, I'd rather spread out the contracts expiring that way.

well yea of course that would have been. before him and Mathews signed, I said, Nylander would be right at 7 and mathews will be over 11...and boy did Leaf fans yell at me. I got called an idiot by some, unrealistic by others.

comparing past contracts to todays is also unrealistic. Marner is a premier player, younger guys are getting paid now, not later. Like look at Mckinnon, compared to others around him, is he a 6.3 m/season player? Rantenen by all counts is looking for 8-9 million per season...who is better?

the only way marner takes less then 9.5 is because it is a hometown discount and there will be reports that he took less to stay. I could be wrong but I would be kind of shocked as I think Marner is better then Mathews with the only difference is that one plays wing and other is a Center.

The only player in the NHL with more goals than Matthews since he entered the league is Ovechkin... and Matthews has missed 40 games in those three season. I would love to hear your explanation of how Marner is better, don't get me wrong I love Marner but come on.

while I wouldn't necessarily say Marner is better I would say its pretty close. Marner is one of their key drivers of offense. He actually has more points than Matthews(but in more games, as you pointed out Matthews has missed time so in terms of ppg Matthews I think is still higher). So if Matthews got 11.6 for 5 years, than lets say Marner is worth maybe a million less per year so 10.6 if its a 5 year deal, if its 8 year deal his deal should theoretically be even higher than Matthews since that would be 3 UFA years.

I didn't make this, but if it ends up being 8 years his AAV should be just as high if not higher than Matthews then. Which means definitely moving out multiple players.

My bad, my initial response was more geared to the "no trades scenario".