Insider Drops Significant Update Regarding Extensions for Leafs' Tavares and Marner
Report from TSN's Chris Johnston regarding contract situations for Mitch Marner and John Tavares sure to excite Maple Leafs fans.
At 34, John Tavares is having a renaissance-type of season with 20 goals and 42 points through 41 games after 'only' tallying 29 goals and 65 points last year.
The pending UFA has continuously expressed his desire to remain a Maple Leaf beyond this season, and the latest reports from TSN's Chris Johnston make it seem like a deal could be closer than most expect.
Johnston was on TSN's 'First Up' on Tuesday morning and was asked about extension progress for Tavares and Marner. While Tavares has expressed his want to stay, Marner reportedly rejected an offer from the Leafs recently, in the middle of a career year.
That, however, did not stop Johnston from making a surprising comment about the Leafs and Marner getting an extension done in-season.
"I don't think they have made any decisions that it has to wait until the end of the year. My understanding is that there is ongoing dialogue between the agents for those players and the Leafs. Not to say that they are exchanging official offers at this point, but I do think that it is a process that is playing out. You get to a certain point as a player, it might make sense, I'm specifically thinking Marner, if you get close enough to July first you might want to take a peak. I think Tavares is a different situation because it's very apparent he wants to stay in Toronto. It doesn't mean he is going to stay for free, but he's at a different stage of his career. It's going to be a different looking contract than Mitch Marner's next deal no matter where it's signed. I think there is still a world it could happen during the season."
Johnston also noted that in the case of Tavares, the Leafs may use deferred salary, as they did with Jake McCabe and Anaheim recently did with Frank Vatrano to help both the team and Tavares.
He does not believe Marner or players in a similar position, like Mikko Rantanen, will want any type of deferral given where they are in their careers.
As much as Marner says he wants to remain a Leaf, he is currently on pace for his first 100-point season and will have plenty of suitors if he reached July 1st, where his agent Darren Ferris likes to lead his clients to boost the offers.
That being said, as the two sides continue dialogue, the Leafs may want to wait to see how the former first-round pick performs in the post-season before making a concrete, final-type of offer.
| POLL |
15 HOURS AGO | 1167 ANSWERS Insider Drops Significant Update Regarding Extensions for Leafs' Tavares and Marner Which pending RFA/UFA are the Leafs most likely to sign to an extension first? |
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