Toronto Maple Leafs: Mitch Marner is Going to Stay

Mitch Marner still hasn’t signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but there is hope (in me, at least) that he signs one.

Marner is the final player left on Kyle Dubas‘ list of free agent signings. And, while there could be more, I doubt it.

While the Marner negotiations have been the most frustrating of all, they also, however, have been the most interesting, too. During free agency, we have witnessed the first instance of an offer-sheet (Montreal trying to poach Sebastian Aho from the Hurricanes) since Ryan O’Reilly was offered one in 2013. And I’m certain that a lot of Leaf fans are waiting for Marner to be the second player this summer.

There are seven teams that have enough money to offer-sheet Marner, per CapFriendly.

While all seven of these teams can offer-sheet Marner, I highly doubt any team actually will, as he is reportedly looking for a big pay check.

If a team wants to get Marner, they will have to offer him more than $11 million per season. If they don’t, the Leafs will most likely match it. So, if a team wants to offer him more than the asking price, they will be giving up four first-round picks in the process. I doubt any team wants to do that.

Now, if a team really wanted to offer-sheet Marner, I think they already would have. Why wait? But, there’s still a chance that one can come in, and I’d gladly take the four first-round picks.

He Stay?

Maybe Marner wants to stay in Toronto. There has been a lot talk of a team ‘seriously considering’ an offer-sheet and that hasn’t happened yet. Also, there has been a lot of ‘sources’ saying Marner won’t take anything under $11 million, or under ‘Matthews money’.

After the recent trade that sent Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche, Kadri spoke about what it’s like to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs on 31 Thoughts: The Podcast.

“They spoil you, too,” says Kadri, on what advice he would give to someone joining the Toronto Maple Leafs,

“It’s a great organization, a lot of class with some great people apart of it.”

I think Marner would never want to leave an organization like that. Plus, it’s the team he grew up watching. In the last three seasons, Marner has become the fan favourite of the team. He also finished with the most points on the Leafs last season.

While the ‘fan favourite’ views of him may be a little tarnished after this summer, I know that he will be everyone’s favourite once the season starts. Marner knows what it’s like to play in Toronto and he does it well.

So, if you do love it Mitch, which I know you do. Stay a while, and maybe win the Stanley Cup in the process.