Statue??? You can't even bring Hyman off LTIR because you have no cap space and that D is terrible

If you are Marner, do you take $10.5M per year for 5 years and go after a new deal at age 27 or take $9.5M for 6 years and go after a new deal when you are 28? I'm guessing the former.

Marner won't get 5 years. Matthews + Nylander already are expiring after 5 years, don't want to add Marner to that.

Well Marner is meeting with other teams on Wednesday. If the Leafs don't offer him North of $10.5M x 5 years, or get close to it (sure he would take a slight discount to stay in TOR), they will be facing a potential offer sheet from another team and will be forced to match it. I see multiple teams that would pay Marner that and do so while giving up (2) 1st rounders, a 2nd and a 3rd which is basically the offer sheet limit before jumping into (4) 1st round picks which I doubt any team would do. Marner, in my opinion, is wisely using this as negotiation tactics which is smart. I'm betting the Leafs could wrap this up at $10M x 6 years and avoid the 5 year renewal.

Well, let's see it happen. It's not a given that he'll get that price, he's certainly not worth it.

He's not worth $10.5M x 5 years? Why not? Skinner gets $9M x 8 years. Panarin will surely get $10.5M x 7. Karlsson just got $11.5M. Marner at 22 is definitely worth it and while RFA's tend to get less then UFA's, he's going to weaponize the offer sheet threat. I'd love to have Marner at $10.5M for 5 years while giving up (2) 1sts, a 2nd and 3rd. I'm sure Colorado feels the same...that would instantly make that team the leading contender out of the West.

It's the term. The Leafs can live with 10.5, but not for just 5 years. 7 or 8 years at that price. And it's worth noting that lots of people seem to think that an offer sheet is a certainty at this point. It's not. We know how rare they are. And certainly if it were the case, Marner would't be the only target.

Bottom line, by Marner and his camp coming out and saying they are meeting with other teams starting wednesday, they are weaponizing the offer sheet as a negotiating tool against the Leafs. As long as the Leafs match or offer more then $10.5M x 5 years, they should be fine.

Offer sheets are rarely singed simply because teams talk to one another and would work out a trade first or alternatively work out a deal with the player. Offer sheets are last resort for reason.