If you've been watching the Toronto Maple Leafs over the past few seasons then you know that the name Mitch Marner has become synonymous with everything Toronto Maple Leafs. Once viewed as something of a gamble in the draft on the part of the Maple Leafs, Marner has developed into one of the organizations top stars and one of the most popular players among the fan base as well.
It's hard to imagine Marner as anything other than a Maple Leaf, especially this early in his career, but since the Maple Leafs were eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week there have been a lot of questions arising on this very topic. Sure Marner is currently under contract with the Maple Leafs until July 1st and even if the team were to fail to get a deal done before that time period he would not simply be free to walk away. As per the collective bargaining agreement Marner would become a restricted free agent and would be eligible to receive an offer sheet from any of the teams around the National Hockey League, although the Leafs would retain the right to match those offers.
The good news here for the Maple Leafs and Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is that offer sheets have become increasingly rare at the NHL level, with players that would be likely targets almost always signed long before they can become a concern. Marner however has not signed a contract as of yet and recent comments from TSN insider Darren Dreger have suggested that he may not choose to do so at all until after July 1st has come and gone.
"Dubas made it clear, Marner is a priority," wrote Dreger on Friday. "However, if you're the Marner camp why would you sign before July 1 unless you're getting top dollar from the Leafs? This applies to all of the high-end RFA players around the NHL."
In fact Dreger speculated earlier in the week that the Leafs could be forced to offer Marner upwards of $11 million per season in order to get him under contract before July 1st, and there is a strong contingent that believes that could be a mistake. Adam Wylde of Virgin Radio and the Steve Dangle Podcast openly wondered if the Leafs would not be better suited to taking the 4 1st round picks, picks that they would receive from a team offering Marner an offer sheet over $10 million per season, and going after one of the big name free agents on the market this summer instead.
"Take the 4 firsts and sign Skinner/Karlsson? "
"That’s an option, right?"
The Leafs have been desperate for help on the blue line for some time now and the possibility of adding a player like Erik Karlsson would certainly be an enticing one. The problem of course is that it will also be an enticing option for just about every other team around the league and there is no guarantee you could even land him in free agency, while Marner on the other hand is already under Maple Leafs control for the time being.
