I think the more realistic approach is to get top-4 RHD with term or on ELC who is about to step in.. and middle-6 RW with less quality but similar playing style back. Pesce+Teravainen would makes sense for example. Ekblad+Hoffman with extension on Hoffman and something attached to Marner (RHD prospect Joey Duszak) would make sense.

Not a chance Columbus makes that trade. Our top line center for a wing? We’d have no top 6 centers at that point and no one to play with Marner.

^ you say realistic approach but every other gm knows marner isnt signing a cheaper deal. every other gm has leverage here that toronto really doesnt have. they either trade him at a discount or wait to sign him.

Toronto holds leverage as well. They can say to him that we can keep you at this number or we are trading your ass out of town. And I for sure know that Marner is gonna get a ton of high end offers from other teams in a trade scenario where teams are gonna bid for his services. I would honestly expect a fair return on him in trade or he signs for less than sportsnet and others say.

The only REAL leverage Toronto holds is an ability to match and that if hes doesnt sign they retain his rights. He however doesnt have to sign with them. He can hold out, and not play thus diminishing his value. All his agent has to do is call all of the gms and say marner is holding out for this specific contract. if you like those terms feel free to call toronto. Obviously there is a number toronto doesnt want to get to and believe me i dont blame them at all. but marners value although still relatively high, is diminishing the longer he remains unsigned.

Marner gets lower AAV than expected imo and none of the trade talk happens. But if it does, there would be some really good offers no matter how long he holds out. If there is GM who wants to pay his ass 11mil per, he would be willing to trade massive amount for him.

I think you're spot on, Sammy. I kinda think that the leafs have played this perfect. Not a bad word to say about Mitch's camp, an overpay offer on the table, cap to match upto the 4 first OS threshold and they let him walk for the 4 firsts if it goes over.

And if Mitch doesn't like those options he can sit or get traded. Seems like it will be his choice. And there's nothing unfair about that

I dont believe Marner is too much involved in this.. Ferris drives the ship.. and he always ducks way down after camp. It happened throughout the years.. it would happen again.. mid-9s on 6yr deal or late 7s on 3yr deal.

if a gm was willing to pay a massive amount for him dont you think there would have been an offer sheet? What you arent factoring into the equation is that these high dollar contracts cripple teams depth. So if a gm was going to pay him 11m he wouldnt give up the farm to do so (nyr with panarin not exactly perfect scenario here but rangers coveted the player and could have traded for him at the deadline, instead waited it out and now their depth is getting traded away to fit him and trouba in), he is going to have to rely on that farm down the road as cheaper alternatives. That being said marner probably takes a 1 year deal and we repeat this process again next year.

I just don't believe any team wants to pay Marner 11.16m. So no trades are to be made. Really other teams aren't glamouring to overpay for Marner contract.....they have their players to sign either this year or in the future.

SammyT51. (and others). Marner is not a hold out. He is has the right to sign for any team, in any league in the world. Well, maybe not women's leagues.

Yeah, I agree. The bluster is getting pretty transparent