Alarming Sign Indicates Mitch Marner's Contract Situation Is Becoming a Playoff Distraction
While the focus of the Maple Leafs is on the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs, forward Mitch Marner's contract situation could prove to be a distraction.
It's going to be one of the biggest decisions in Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving's tenure on the job, because when this year is up, he'll have to decide what kind of contract will be the most prudent to offer star forward and core piece Mitch Marner.
He's playing in the final year of his current deal and can become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Also complicating things is that he's on pace for a career-best in points, which would naturally drive his price up and would be a franchise cornerstone for any interested parties.
Mitch Marner's Production Since Break Has Been Uncharacteristically Average
But one Maple Leafs analyst was quick to notice that Marner's stats haven't quite been what they were before the 4 Nations Faceoff break.
mitch marner since 4 Nations at 5v5:
19 GP
48% shot attempts
49% expected goals
+0 goal differential
8 points (1.79 P/60 vs. 2.57 before the tournament)
marner hasn't had the same impact as the first half of the season, i wonder if the contract stuff is beginning to affect him
19 GP
48% shot attempts
49% expected goals
+0 goal differential
8 points (1.79 P/60 vs. 2.57 before the tournament)
marner hasn't had the same impact as the first half of the season, i wonder if the contract stuff is beginning to affect him
While we don't know for certain what exactly is the culprit behind Marner's sudden downtick in production, but he isn't the only one struggling. Auston Matthews has been decent, but also dealing with a slight downturn in production since the tournament as well as a lot of injury speculation.
Since the return from the 4 Nations Face-Off, Marner has 20 points (7G, 13A) in 19 games played. which is far off his current season pace of 1.24 PPG, a big increase from the 1.05 since the break.
His overall output so far this year is 91 points (23G, 68A) in 73 games, and he's on pace for 101 points - which would represent a new career-best.
His current AAV (average annual value) on his deal is $10,903,000; it's a good bet he'll want a substantial increase on that figure on his next deal, thanks to his output this year, and he could easily find himself in the Leon Draisaitl range; a staggering $14M.
Will it be in Toronto or elsewhere? Only one man knows, and he wears the #16 jersey. But for how long?
| POLL | ||
MARS 31 | 751 ANSWERS Alarming Sign Indicates Mitch Marner's Contract Situation Is Becoming a Playoff Distraction Will Mitch Marner re-sign with the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 524 | 69.8 % |
| No | 227 | 30.2 % |
| List of polls | ||