Insider reveals Leafs decision on Mitch Marner
Photo credit: Sportsnet
Here's the latest on Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it's not looking great if you want him around.
TSN's Chris Johnston reported the team is expected to let him walk in free agency next summer and lose their superstar for nothing.
C. Johnston on if Marner gets to next summer without being traded or getting an extension (SDP): "It's probably slightly more likely he walks than signs an extension but not significantly so. If we were setting the betting lines now that favourite would be walks as a free agent
The answer to the reason why this is happening can be traced to the salary cap crunch. William Nylander is making $11.5 million per year, Auston Matthews is at $13.25 million, and captain John Tavares $7.95 million. Meanwhile, Marner is currently at $10.9 million. So the easy decision is to trade the latter star who's on expiring contract but it's not that simple.
Before inflicting your awful Mitch Marner Trade Proposal on innocent bystanders, ask yourself if the package the Leafs are getting back would be fair for one of Pasternak, Kucherov, Draisaitl, Kaprizov or Rantanen. If it's not, delete the tweet!
The conversation around the Leafs for several years has linked the hefty salaries committed to four players and their inability to win playoff series. Many in hockey circles believe the reason Toronto hasn't been successful in even advancing to the conference finals while with this core is because of the cap crunch they bring with the money they rake.
It doesn't leave management much room to add depth players. Ultimately, one has to go and it appears that's going to be Marner next season. It's a tough pill to swallow, but it's a move that could benefit the team in the long run. Teams generally have to make sacrifices to win, and for Toronto, it's losing Marner whether through trade or free agency.
| POLL | ||
9 JUILLET | 101 ANSWERS Insider reveals Leafs decision on Mitch Marner Do you think the Maple Leafs losing Mitch Marner will benefit them in the long run? | ||
| Yes | 55 | 54.5 % |
| No | 46 | 45.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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