Earlier this week, we looked at the high cost of contract extensions this summer for Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl.
Mitch Marner will also be in line for a hefty raise on his next contract. Like Crosby and Draisaitl, the 26-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs winger can sign an extension when the the free agent market opens on July 1.
Slated to become a UFA next July, Marner is in the fifth year of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $10.9 million. He’s been sidelined by a high-ankle sprain since March 7. However, The Hockey News Toronto’s David Alter reports Marner could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.
Speculation over the cost of re-signing Marner began in January after the Leafs signed William Nylander to a new contract. It was estimated that the Leafs might have to cough up between $11.5 million and $13.25 million to keep him in the fold.
Related: What Next for the Maple Leafs After Re-Signing William Nylander?
That $13.25 million is also how much Auston Matthews will earn annually on the four-year contract extension he signed last summer with the Leafs.
It can be argued that Marner shouldn’t receive the same annual cap hit as Matthews. The latter is the greatest goal-scorer in Maple Leafs history and the only active player with two 60-goal seasons. He’s the engine that powers Toronto’s offense.
However, a case can also be made in Marner’s favor. NHL.com’s Dan Rosen considers the two-way winger to be Toronto’s “do-everything forward.” He pointed out Marner logs big minutes, handles tough matchups and plays on their power-play and penalty-killing units. “He’s a Selke-Trophy type of player,” writes Rosen.
Rosen noted that the salary cap could rise to $92 million when Marner’s new contract kicks in. John Tavares’s contract will also be off their books by then, freeing up more space to absorb Marner’s new salary.
The Leafs will want to get Marner under contract this summer rather than have negotiations become an unwelcome distraction that drags into next season. It’ll be interesting to see if he pursues a long-term deal or takes a page from Matthews’ book and signs a four-year contract.
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News Summary:
- Could Leafs' Mitch Marner Get As Much As Auston Matthews On His Next Contract?
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