Marner caught in a lie when asked about offer sheet scenario

The rumors are intensifying and Marner is feeling the heat!

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Marner caught in a lie when asked about offer sheet scenario
Zuma Press

First of all, we cannot blame the kid for trying to get media to stop asking about his contract and potential consequences around it. Mitch Marner is having a breakout season in his third campaign with Toronto, leading the Maple Leafs with 62 points in 49 games - just eight short of setting a career high. He wants to lead his team to a playoff spot and a long postseason run and that's what matters. 

However, behind the scene, the Maple Leafs and general manager Kyle Dubas are working hard to make sure they can sign both Marner and teammate Auston Matthews to contract extensions before they become restricted free agents on July 1st. The pressure is on, especially when the team and Marner keep being reminded that the winger could be a prime candidate to an offer sheet this summer. 

As TSN’s Darren Dreger reported yesterday, “I can tell you, with certainty, teams are 100 percent preparing an offer sheet for Mitch Marner.”

Ever since the chatter of a potential offer sheet has been mentioned, Dubas has remained adamant that the Leafs will not lose any of their core players to an offer sheet and has maintained this position ever since. 

Marner was asked about an offer sheet scenario on Friday after the Leafs' practice ahead of tonight's game against the Detroit Red Wings, and the Leafs forward was caught in a lie. 

As we all know, his agent Darren Ferris, has indicated no contract talks will take place until after the season ends. However, Marner appears to indicate in his answer to TSN that both camps are working NOW to avoid an offer sheet scenario in the future. 

"I mean that's why we're trying to figure out all this stuff now, but for me personally I'm just trying to stay out of all that, let Kyle and my agent talk. We've both expressed that until is really about to happen then I'll get involved, but until then I'm just trying to stay focus on this team and help this team win every game."

While the Leafs' season could end early if they cannot make it all the way to the Stanley Cup final, Ferris and Dubas will have time to discuss a contract extension before the threat of an offer sheet. However, we are well aware that no talks have taken place for now. Marner has also made it clear he prefers to wait and see what will happen with teammate Matthews getting talks started with Leafs management. 

So, it sounds like a lie... However, many people say time shouldn't be wasted on fearing an offer sheet since they rarely happen anymore. 

Since the 2004-05 NHL lockout, only eight players have signed an offer sheet. Ryan O'Reilly is the last player to be summited to an offer sheet back in 2013: the Calgary Flames signed him to a two-year, $10-million deal, only to have it matched by O'Reilly's team at the time, the Colorado Avalanche.

Source: TSN