I agree with every single thing you’re saying here… but I always see an over paying team out there… Utah? San Jose? Chicago to give Bedard his setup guy?
- Dozzer

You have to fearfully wonder if Marner playing somewhere other than the place he grew up just dying to play in suddenly makes him feel so much less pressure and he magically becomes that playoff superstar and leader we so desperately want him (expect him based on salary) to be.

We all know it'll happen if he goes somewhere else.

His first contract as a UFA and you guys think giving him nothing more than a $594K raise will be enough?

No offence but you’re dreaming…. Big time.
- Dozzer

I enjoy dreams.

I think if things continue as they are ...Tree's in a good position to take that position.

But, contracts (especially in Toronto) always seem to be tied to the % of Cap so Willie's 11.5 inflated to the next year for Marner ends up being about $12.15 b/c the league has floated that the Cap will be ~92M for 25/26.
- The Law

...

...this is the hill I would die on as Leafs GM.

Paying him the exact same as Nylander is fair - especially considering Marner did better in the last round.

Marner knows he isn't getting the same endorsement deals in LA or Nashville.

Time to play hardball - if $11.5M X 8 years can be considered hardball.

Many have said he should not that he would.

- Cush29

He should not dream? Or is this towards Mitch with an itch?

Well, he was overpaid on his last contract while Willy was underpaid.

He's not going to look at it this way, but hopefully that's the way it shakes down.
- Whipper

Willie was only underpaid the final 3 years....not the first 3 years.
First 3 years he was paid as per his results.

oh man
You gotta be losing your mind in there
- Skalapy

Don’t make me post a pic showing the part they cut out in 2021

Yup.

Maybe the Leafs shouldn't pay Mitch that much. That sure is debatable.

But I'm also pretty convinced someone will.
- Scabeh

Yeah… I will wonder until I see it happen… I won’t pretend to know at all

You have to fearfully wonder if Marner playing somewhere other than the place he grew up just dying to play in suddenly makes him feel so much less pressure and he magically becomes that playoff superstar and leader we so desperately want him (expect him based on salary) to be.

We all know it'll happen if he goes somewhere else.
- Cush29

Sometimes a quieter area works fantastic for a player… just ask O’Reilly for instance

Poor (rich as a MF) Soupy.

I feel bad for him though, I think he would give up half his salary to be able to regain his form when he was on fire here.
- Cush29

IT's always the fun (3 beers in) question:

Would he be better off ripping up his contract, and taking a much lower one where the pressure is off and he can rediscover his form?

It takes 3 beers to be able to make the argument, but it's still a fun one to have.

Here's what I wonder . . .how much is Mitch Marner worth on the open market with no restrictions?

Like right now in terms of cap hit percentage Pastrnak makes 13.6%, Marner makes 13.4%, Nylander will be 13.1% and then it drops to Kucherov and Stone at 11.9%, Voracek at 11.6, Tkachuk 11.5, Rantanen 11.3 . . . and so on.

Do you pay Marner more than Pastrnak? For most teams in the league do you pay Marner more than anyone else on your team? Is he THE guy?

That's a tough call. I like Marner - he's insanely skilled - but I don't know if he's the leader who leads you @ $12.5m and provides that value.
- Monkeypunk

It's that's simple ...he's going to get $12-$13M per year from some team. Tree has the choice of taking him or passing on him. If you make the decision that you don't like him at that number ...(frank) it, move on and spend the money in some "better" way.

Hockey is the last sport where teams/fans express outrage at "losing" a guy for nothing. Get what you can ...cap space is the new reality (assuming you believe you can spend it better).

All that said ...he's an elite RW and I'd be shocked if he doesn't re-sign this summer.

You have to fearfully wonder if Marner playing somewhere other than the place he grew up just dying to play in suddenly makes him feel so much less pressure and he magically becomes that playoff superstar and leader we so desperately want him (expect him based on salary) to be.

We all know it'll happen if he goes somewhere else.
- Cush29

JMHO, but I get the feeling Marner loves the Toronto spotlight.

...

...this is the hill I would die on as Leafs GM.

Paying him the exact same as Nylander is fair - especially considering Marner did better in the last round.

Marner knows he isn't getting the same endorsement deals in LA or Nashville.

Time to play hardball - if $11.5M X 8 years can be considered hardball.
- Atomic Wedgie

Honestly, I've been a proponent of moving one of the Core RW's for a few years b/c I'm a blueline/g'tending guy. That ship has sailed for the most part. Like I said above ..Tree needs to ignore the rhetoric and focus on how he wants to build a winner. Keeping expensive talent (and they're all elite) at the cost of winning playoff games isn't a good formula.

So, I agree, set your price and be prepared to walk away and lose him for nothing (but cap space). I'm totally down with that if he has a better plan on how to spend and construct a winning roster.

Domi damn near had one last night too but instead the leafs gave it up and let Boston score damn near immediately after they did.

I’m also willing to give Matthews a pass because the other stars of the team don’t need the primary defensively physical guys from the other team to do the trick, only the second tier ones work on them. Get some more grit and I’d be willing to bet Matthews becomes more dominant because the opposition would no longer be able to focus on him that way.
- Dozzer

About two more Knies would go along way with a healthy McMann.

And I should add ....with the Cap correcting itself over the next few years AND JT's contracting ending ...Treeliving probably sees a path to improving the blue line and goaltending and keeping the 3 big $$ forwards.

Yeah… I will wonder until I see it happen… I won’t pretend to know at all
- Dozzer

No but you see, I'm convinced.

Isn't that enough for you?!?

No but you see, I'm convinced.

Isn't that enough for you?!?



- Scabeh

(frank) it…

Sure it is now

About two more Knies would go along way with a healthy McMann.
- Leafsmart

THIS!

Precisely this!!!!

JMHO, but I get the feeling Marner loves the Toronto spotlight.
- Atomic Wedgie

just get him a new pimped out range rover...

He should not dream? Or is this towards Mitch with an itch?
- Dozzer

This is 100% about Mitch but we are all dreamers.....

You know I'm a dreamer
But my heart's of gold
I had to run away high
So I wouldn't come home low

I’m in a good mood folks… just saw the neurologists and I seized 3 more times last night

They told me they’re still going to lower my meds a bit and get my seizures captured showing every last little bit. It may sound crazy but everything is currently going ideally, not just for me but the dozen neurologists here atm and one or two of the surgeons coming to see me

And I should add ....with the Cap correcting itself over the next few years AND JT's contracting ending ...Treeliving probably sees a path to improving the blue line and goaltending and keeping the 3 big $$ forwards.
- The Law

Agree. We need two good pieces on the blue line also. And I still scratch my head if we could do better than Moe as well.

Have to take in to account that Tre struck out with Klingberg this year. Imagine if that 5mil, went to a quality D man.

May not be having a lot of these conversations at this point.

Willie was only underpaid the final 3 years....not the first 3 years.
First 3 years he was paid as per his results.
- Fakepartofme

Which years of Mitch's contract has he been fairly paid, underpaid or overpaid in your opinion?

In mine I feel like he has been overpaid in all the years of his current deal.

I understood some of it due to Lou kinda' (frank)ing him over, BUT he hasn't taken the reigns and been the most or 2nd most dominate wright winger in the league come playoff time yet hence my opinion he has been consistently overpaid.

This is 100% about Mitch but we are all dreamers.....

You know I'm a dreamer
But my heart's of gold
I had to run away high
So I wouldn't come home low
- Cush29

Nicely done! I’ve seen the Crüe live before

Not the same band but the era is right and this had me laughing yesterday

JMHO, but I get the feeling Marner loves the Toronto spotlight.
- Atomic Wedgie

100 % he does - Tre needs to use that to his advantage when negotiating a new deal IMO.


We love you, the city loves you and you love this city, the fans and the team.

We NEED you to take less for the benefit of this city - as loved as you are now you will be more loved if you just take the same as Willy or even less (he won't take less).

We CAN'T move forward and be a cup contender if we pay you more than Willy - that's just reality Mitch.

8 years at Willly's money is on the table, happy to do less years for same or less money but that is the max salary per year we can do.

Ball is in your court Mitch (Mitch's dad).

I think what toronto needs most are players who can grind it out. Boston has it, you dont, and you have more talent than the bruins