See ya Mitch as Leaf fans hope the blackhawks continue to miss the playoffs

Isn't the goal to win stanley cups and not 1st round exits? 1st round exits are even worse then making the playoffs, deflating.

Not when we are discussing first rounds picks it’s not

Not a chance I want to Chicago to do this, nor is Marner a center. I'm okay with the Hawks offering $10.5M for 5 years and giving up (2) 1sts, (1) 2nd, and (1) 3rd but all that would do is force the Leafs to match and they would is my guess, albeit not happy, but at least we buy credibility with Marner's agent who happens to represent Perlini too.

I believe they will match anything under the 10.59 and take the picks on anything over.

Well adjusting the lines correctly....again, not this would every happen but in theory this is a playoff team.

Hoffman - Toews - Kane
Cat - Strome - Marner
Saad - Caggs - Martinook
Perlini - Kampf - Sceviour
Sikura

That's a pretty sick offensive lineup.

Defense isn't realistic as Boqvist is still a long shot to make the team, Hawks aren't rushing him. So that said...

Keith - Gus
Maatta - Jokiharju
Murphy - Seabs
Koekko

That's a good enough defense assuming Maatta plays well, Jokiharju does what he did last year with another year under his belt (safe assumption) and Gus puts up 40+ points (60 last year). Crow would have to play like the Crow we know of course but if he did, that's a 2nd round team.

I agree as well, but Marner and his agent are going to use other teams to force the Leafs hands on a 5 year deal for $10.5M is my guess.

I wasn’t saying they wouldn’t just that Leafs fans will be hoping for a repeat of the third overall pick like this year.

If I have read the reports right. Marner isn’t looking for 11 million and wants a short term deal. My assumption is the 5 years but the leafs don’t want it so will be interesting to see how it plays out and I assume it is done before an offer sheet can be signed

Marner wants a short term deal because the Leafs aren't willing to give him a Matthews type of deal...btw I agree that the Leafs shouldn't but also think they overpaid Matthews a bit. That said, if the Leafs dug in their heels on price, Marner is saying short term deal now (5 years) and has said Wednesday morning he's meeting with other teams. What that means is, he's weaponizing the offer sheet to get a $10.5M x 5 year deal essentially forcing the hand of the Leafs. They would be crazy to let Marner go for (2) 1sts, a 2nd and 3rd and won't. Now, a "official" offer sheet will likely never come to light, but Dubas and the xyz team will talk and basically the xyz GM will say, look Dubas...we met with him and would offer sheet him or we can work out a trade at which point Dubas has no play other then to offer the same type of package.

Offer sheets are very rarely formally written because everyone talks to each other behind closed doors and figures out the scenario for everyone, but make no mistake, Marner and his agent are going to force the Leafs to the table at $10.5m x 5 later this week as I'm pretty sure there are multiple teams that will give up (2) 1sts, a 2nd and a 3rd. Colorado, Carolina, Ottawa, the Hawks...plenty of teams would love to have Marner at that price.

I agree but don’t understand why they are so scared of the 5 years other then yes I know it will walk him right into UFA. That will put all 3 up contracts again and will leave the leafs with a ton of options in that final year depending on where things are going.

Well that's why. Bad situation to have Nylander, Marner and Matthews all becoming UFA's in the same year. Marner's agent is smart, he knows this and will let this play to his client's advantage. Leafs ideally should be going after 6 years but they are going to have to cough up $10.5M a year. It's a bad situation for the Leafs and they aren't calling the shots anywhere close to what most Leaf fans care to admit on here. Again, this all depends on another team willing to pay him $10.5M x 5 years...my guess is there are a handful that would.

Ya let’s sign marner so we can’t resign debrincat, strome, Gustafsson, boqvist, jokiharju, and Kirby dach in the next 1-4 years from now and totally ruin the Blackhawks future making us buyout Kane or toews, terrible idea