As per usual, overpaid Marner by ~2Mil AAV for fun when he has literally zero negotiating power

Just gotta find 3 guys making $460k and should be good to go

It's a five year deal, no way he signs 8.5 for anything more than two years. He'll sit out, Dubas caved on Nylander and he'll do it again.

Nylander had no negotiating power and they overpaid him so seems to fit the narrative.

Yes... Nylander got slightly overpaid... by like 300K, around 4% of the contract value... not this 20%ish rediculousness which makes him the 2nd highest paid winger in the league. There are overpaids and negotiations to get deals done and then there is Marners fairy land wishes. Negotiate in reality

10.5 million is about just right for Marner. Why should he take 7-8 million, less than Skinner?

Maybe, but if Aho's contract sets the market Marner is a mil above that so it starts at 9.5$. And given what an older Panarin got in Free agency for almost an identical season its not unrealistic to expect a 10 to 10.5 mil contract.

Rocket, you are 100% correct and AHo did set the Market... That is why Mitch gets the same. Mitch is not better than Aho... At all. and here are facts as to why
1. Aho Plays Center vs Mitch's Wing - Centers are more valuable throughout the NHL
2. Aho Scores more goals than Mitch. Goals are more valuable than Assists. Its just a fact
3. Based on all stats and even the eye test Aho is better defensively than Marner at 5v5
4. Production - yes Mitch got slightly more, but Aho didnt have an elite winger like Marner had an elite center in JT. THier production is virtually the same. I can hear an arguement on how mItch could be better though but its slight

Aho, Montreal and Carolina all agree'd he is worht 8.5/5. Thats what Mitch needs to start at

6/2, 7.5ish/3, 8.5/5, 9/6, 9.5/7, 10/8

Also, Panarin is not a comparable. Panarin is a UFA. He got to be courted by all 31 teams if he wished. He got to choose who he wanted to go with.

Mitch is an RFA
-No Negotiation Rights
-No offersheets got offered or signed by him
-his only power is to hold out which the leafs have now planned for.


Also for fun, question, how many points would Mitch have gotten if instead of passing to JT he was passing to Hyman, Kadri, Kappy, Mango? I know my answer and it is less than 94. You need an elite finisher if you are marner. Every other person i listed would have had the puck bounce off shinpads, sticks, skates, not getting good shots off, or not being in that position in the first place... And now you are talking about a 74-82 point season.

So, couple of things to point out here... I wouldn't call Aho more valuable because he "scores goals" when comparing him to Marner, there numbers over their careers are pretty similar. Aho hit 30 goals for the first time last year and he only hit 30, Marner had 26... not that big of a difference. Also, while Aho doesn't play with Elite wingers, Teravainen is no slouch (64 and 76 points the last two years playing with Aho), so that argument loses it's value as well. Not to mention that playing with Tavares, Marner was 6 points away from being a 100 point guy and was trending up, points wise, before JT joined the team... the logical assumption would be that continuing to play with JT will keep Marner around a 90-100 point player going forward.

Lastly, Marner has lead the Leafs in scoring for the past 3 years (even before Tavares joined the team)... more than Tavares, more than Matthews, you get the idea...

To say he doesn't deserve 10m+ is just a ridiculous argument and the only ones using it are Leafs fans. I'm an Islanders fan and I would not be mad at all if Lou signed Marner to a 5yr 11/11.5m contract today because I know Marner instantly makes my team better and gives them a REAL shot at winning a cup.

With all the chatter I wouldn't be surprised if teams have presented OS to Marner and he just hasn't signed one because, ultimately, he does want to be in Toronto. But as the season draws near, if any of those teams are still willing, I wouldn't be surprised if Marner signs one... especially if the Leafs keep dicking him around like they are. They have clearly gone out of their way to force him to sign a contract for under 10m (bringing in Clarkson and giving themselves only 10.5m in CAP) to force his hand.