Pierre LeBrun Reveals Mitch Marner's Contract Demands Despite Disappointing Playoff Run
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun unveiled some new information regarding Mitch Marner's contract and how his playoff performance might end up swaying that.
With the focus firmly set towards Game 6 against Florida on Friday night, Mitch Marner is trying to keep his season alive, as well as his legacy with the Maple Leafs.
Coming into the postseason with high expectations, Marner started off hot, but has again gone cold at a time when the team needs him the most.
On the brink of elimination and potentially playing his last game with the team, he's trying his best to look ahead to the task at hand, and not worry about his future.
According to NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, it won't matter how Marner actually ends up performing; teams are still going to fight tooth and nail for him:
Mitch Marner's performance last night and over these playoffs will not change the kind of offers he'll see this summer.
It might be easier to list the teams that won't check in on Marner before July 1st than will.
With the cap going up and teams desperate to make a splash, plenty will check in and approach Marner before he hits the open market.
It might be easier to list the teams that won't check in on Marner before July 1st than will.
With the cap going up and teams desperate to make a splash, plenty will check in and approach Marner before he hits the open market.
So what does July 1st look like for Marner and the Maple Leafs? Let's take a brief look.
Mitch Marner's Free Agency One For The Ages
It's not too often you find a player who comes into the free agent market and has literally every team salivating.
Marner offers that in spades, and while it's a legitimate concern that he doesn't perform well in the playoffs, the onus is also on the other stars and he can hardly be blamed solely for their failures.
Do you think teams are going to care?
A 100+ point player in the prime of his career, with elite two-way production and someone who can not only lead the offense, but help mentor the young guys is a rarity, but Marner has that game changing ability.
He's registered 450 points over the last five seasons, finishing Top 10 in the Selke voting in that span, and being a huge catalyst at times when Auston Matthews isn't.
There are a myriad of teams who are either rebuilding or on the cusp of the playoffs who would love to add Marner and he's been linked to Chicago and San Jose in order to work with their superstar rookies.
While not directly linked, he could definitely look to play with teams like Columbus, New York (Islanders), Calgary, and Los Angeles; four teams who have a load of cap space next year and could use a player like Marner.
In Columbus he would push them into the next level with Adam Fantilli, Kirill Marchenko as well as forming chemistry with Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan; they have the pieces and Marner might be the finishing touch.
The Islanders are going through a revamp throughout the whole organization and with Lou Lamoriello out of the picture, they have the cap and gumption necessary to field a big offer.
While an older lineup, he could still help elevate Maxim Tsyplakov and Bo Horvat, while reuniting him with former teammate Pierre Engvall.
Calgary also has a former teammate of Marner's but with a bit more offensive ability; that being Nazem Kadri and were fighting for a wild card spot the final day of the season.
They had an issue scoring and helping out Dustin Wolf, and Marner's offensive ability could be the reason they get in next year.
They have a ton of youth and upside, and Marner could get the chance to be their leader for the foreseeable future.
Los Angeles also got rid of a longtime executive and are looking for a revamp after another disappointing playoffs (sound familiar?)
They might dump a few big pieces, they are losing a lot in free agency, and they are no longer the powerhouse of old.
But they still have a lot of talent, and if they can lock them up to some team friendly deals, Marner could come into a place with history winning in modern times and help lead them again, especially with guys like Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere.
That's just a handful of teams who could be interested in Marner, and that doesn't even touch of the more wilder speculative deals, ones that involve him getting a boatload of money.
Marner deserves every penny though. Putting up 102 points in 81 games (27G, 75A) he led the team in points, a career high in assists, a career low in PIM (14) in 21:29 TOI.
| POLL | ||
MAI 16 | 515 ANSWERS Pierre LeBrun Reveals Mitch Marner's Contract Demands Despite Disappointing Playoff Run Do you think Mitch Marner will stay with the Maple Leafs or leave in free agency? | ||
| Leave as a free agent | 323 | 62.7 % |
| Stay with the Maple Leafs | 192 | 37.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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