The Toronto Maple Leafs should do everything in their power to sign Mitch Marner.
Marner is a dynamic, talented super-star with Hall of Fame potential. The Toronto Maple Leafs are definitely a better team with him, than without him.
Normally most group 2 free-agents have little negotiating leverage. Short of being willing to sit out games, they don’t have a lot of options.
If Dreger is right in his report that the Marner camp wants to take negotiations beyond July 1st, then the Marner camp clearly thinks the threat of an offersheet is their leverage.
Only problem: offer sheets are practically extinct, and anyone giving Marner an offer sheet will give themselves a bad contract with no first round ELC players available for four years to offset it.
If it actually happened, it’d be a pretty good thing for the Leafs. If they want to play tough with Marner (which I do not think they should) then they should call his bluff and let him sign an offer-sheet.
Marner and Offer-Sheet
Marner is going to sign with the Leafs and be one of their greatest players of all time. I sincerely believe that.
But let’s just say that he does sign an offer-sheet – it’s not the worst thing that can happen.
The Leafs could neglect to match and take the four first round picks. They can then take Marner’s $10 million and sign either Artemi Panarin or Jeff Skinner. Then they can take the four first round picks and use them as trade currency.
First round picks tend to be ridiculously overvalued The Toronto Maple Leafs would have four of them, which they could use to trade for players that could help the team now.
Personally, I wouldn’t play hardball with Marner. He’s more than just a player, he’s the city of Toronto’s #1 goldenboy. He’s got the potential to be more than just a hockey player – he could be a legend.
If it’s a matter of a million dollar overpay, I’d just say screw it, and give him the dough. He’s worth it.
But, let’s say the Leafs have a number they won’t go beyond and are intent on a game of hardball, I’d just call Marner’s bluff.
Because if you ignore Marner the person and fan favorite, if you just consider his skill as a hockey player with no name, then he’s a winger who’s asking for too much money. If you’re coldly analytical, the best thing for the Leafs would be to sign a UFA to replace him and use the four picks to stock their team with cheap talent. (By trading them, obviously).
It’s an interesting situation, and again, I hope he signs. I am a huge Mitch Marner fan. All I’m saying is that an offer-sheet won’t hurt the Leafs – emotions aside.