Early projections on Marner's next contract will not sit well with Leafs Nation
A lot of the focus surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs has been around the new contracts for Auston Matthews and William Nylander, and rightfully so. They are both due extensions, both are going to get modest raises from their current cap hit, and with how cash-strapped the Leafs have become, it is going to be tough to be able to hold onto the core-4 with the cap slowly going up.
While Nylander and Matthews are due for new deals in the summer of 2024, Mitch Marner - and also John Tavares - will have their contracts expiring the following year. With how the market fluctuates, Marner will be looking at the deals that Nylander and Matthews agree to as his barometer come summer of 2025.
Marner has been everything and then some for the Maple Leafs over his 7-year tenure, as he has 168 goals and 554 points in 507 games. He has turned into one of the league's premier two-way wingers, is very responsible defensively, and one of the craftiest forwards in the NHL today. In the last 2 years alone, he has 65 goals and 196 points in just 152 games, missing the 100-point mark by 3 in 2021-22 and by 1 in 2022-23. He has also added 5 goals and 22 points in 18 post-season games over the last two years.
In the same span of time, Auston Matthews has 299 goals and 542 points in 481 games with 100 goals and 191 points coming in his last 2 years - a span of 147 games. In the past 2 post-seasons he has added 9 goals and 20 points in 18 games.
As for Nylander, he has scored 171 goals and 417 points in 499 games across the same 7-year span with another 7 goals and 17 points in 18 playoff games. He is coming off a career-year with 40 goals and 87 points and if he's asking for 10 million and Matthews is asking for 14 million, where does Marner fit into all of this?
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period appeared on the Leafs Morning Take on Sunday and briefly discussed this very important issue:
These two deals will effect what Mitch Marner's decision is going to be... If [Marner] puts up another 100 point season or close to it and Nylander is getting $10M and Auston is getting $14M... $15M for Mitch?" - Pagnotta on the Mitch Marner negotiations next summer
Marner has put up 10 more points than Matthews in 26 more games played over the last 7 seasons and have both played pivotal roles in all situations. Matthews is a centre with a Hart Trophy and two Rocket Richard Trophies as well as a Ted Linsday Award, while Marner lacks any major individual awards. Centres are far more valuable, which would play a factor in contract negotiations, but with the cap expected to rise exponentially over the new few years, how tough of a stance will the Leafs take in the Marner negotiations? That's the million dollar question.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 18 | 427 ANSWERS Early projections on Marner's next contract will not sit well with Leafs Nation If Auston Matthews gets $14M on his next deal, will Marner get $15M? | ||
| Yes, probably | 61 | 14.3 % |
| No, not a chance | 338 | 79.2 % |
| He might get even more if the cap skyrockets | 28 | 6.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
