Speculation: Mitch Marner #14 - The Gentle Art of Making Enemies

[kevsh]

I am curious whether Marner or Ferris was the one that decided to wait until the end of the season to negotiate.

On one hand it seemed like a smart strategy: If Mitch has a monster year he increases his bargaining power (he did, in a big way). On the other hand, even a mildly engaged hockey fan knew the Leafs were facing a serious cap crunch going into the season, even if Matthews took a big hometown discount (he didn't).

So all Summer, Dubas has done everything in his power to clear cap space even to the point of hurting the team (the 1st given up to move out Marleau, for example). At this point, there's very little wiggle room for the Leafs financially. So it's less about what Marner wants or deserves, it's about what the Leafs can pay and still get in under the cap.

For whatever reason it seems possible Ferris/Marner haven't accepted that. So whomever had the idea to wait until this post-season to negotiate it was a gross miscalculation and now Marner is left trying to draw blood from a stone. Plus, it's been bad PR for Mitch, who fans are already turning on somewhat, and camp hasn't even started - and yes, he probably does care about that.

If this stretches out into the season and the Leafs don't budge, I could Mitch finally relenting, signing and firing Ferris shortly after.

 

[Deebs]

Simple. Trade Nylander, sign Marner.

Leafs should have traded Nylander last year.

Agreed

 

[Leaf Fans]

And then Dubas straightened up from the barrel, pulled up his pants, and went straight to a therapist.

That would be a completely random thing to do, so I don't believe you. Is doubtful he keeps a barrel in his office ( admittedly I have never been there. I don't believe you have either.) There would be no reason to have his pants pulled down unless you are claiming he signed the contract while using the restroom? A lot of people have need of therapists so make light of real or imagined mental health issue is very low. I suppose though, mental health issues can affect anyone; it hasn't affected his job if you're doubtful claim has any validity.

 

[mondo13]

Still believe that Ferris is going to cave during training camp.

 

[PensandCaps]

You trade an up-coming star player on a good contract? No.

good contract? lol

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

Because Matthews is much better. You give Marner the quality of linemates Matthews had last year and he would be lucky to hit 60 points. Add in that he is a winger.

I would never say that Matthews is "much better'" it's debatable that he is slightly better

 

[Merrrlin]

There are no emotions here:

Marner has 61, 69 and 94 points. His career high came when paired with future HOF John Tavares. Away from Tavares Marners metrics are poor.

For Marner to turn down $11Mx8 is insulting to Toronto organization and fanbase.

Here is the emotion part:

People whine about how athletes have a short career to earn as much as they can, but 98% of fans are not professional athletes. Most of us will never see $1 million let alone $11. I cannot sympathize for a guy that greedy especially when he clearly ISNT Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, Sidney Crosby.

You complain that Kucherov and Draisaitl took friendly deals...well why is that a bad thing? Why cant I hope or expect my team's beloved players to do the same? Nobody is saying Marner should be making $5M because hes better than that, but balking at $11x8 is disgusting. And this rant isnt emotional it's also logical.

Your defense of that kind of behavior is why we have Nylanders and Matthews contracts. Disgusting. And Nylanders contract isnt horrible...its just terrible that Dubas folded. The right move was trading.

Now Marner is playing spoiled brat and we're dealing with it

Did he turn down 11x8?

Also, I can't dislike your post...not after you included that part about JT <3

The part about why can't you expect players to play for the love of their team on friendly contract?

Because that is an unfair expectation.

 

[PromisedLand]

Entitlement? You are valuing your entertainment over his actual life. Who is entitled here?

Guy rejected 100 million dollars (cdn); I wonder if I even make 10% of it in my entire life

 

[biotk]

no problem thinking matthews is better. but "Much better" is just you being a fanboy.

Why don't you convince your team to OS mitch.

 

[biotk]

Personally, I'd take Marner if given the choice but both are great players.

Thankfully Leafs' management feels differently.

 

[biotk]

I would never say that Matthews is "much better'" it's debatable that he is slightly better

Don't care what you think. Thankfully Leafs' management knows more than you.

 

[DFC]

Still believe that Ferris is going to cave during training camp.

Cave to 8x11? Not a bad cave.

 

[KidLine93]

I think a fan of the team that has the best player in the league but can't make the playoffs should be talking **** imo

we can win a playoff round.

and that response doesn't refute my point

 

[mondo13]

Cave to 8x11? Not a bad cave.

he won't be getting 11 million after rejecting the offer and having dreger piss his pants on the radio.

 

[DFC]

he won't be getting 11 million after rejecting the offer and having dreger piss his pants on the radio.

You think the Leafs pulled it off the table? Somehow I doubt that. But if that's the case, this is gonna make the Nylander situation look like nothing.

 

[mondo13]

You think the Leafs pulled it off the table? Somehow I doubt that.

if i was gm i would've. the team gave you an offer they deemed was reasonable by your asinine standards, you reject it and complain about it to every pundit.

 

[KidLine93]

I think a fan of the team that has the best player in the league but can't make the playoffs should be talking **** imo

Well Leaf nation was telling us Mathhews was the best guy in the league for a while until McDavid completly left him in the dust. And yes I "Should" be talking shit because Leaf nation was so confident and cocky about these 3 guys and how they would all take these huge discounts that Toronto is entitled to for some reason, yet all 3 of them took the franchise to the cleaners on the contracts they are signing/ rejecting.

Nice to see you guys completely throw Marner under the bus now that he still hasn't signed. Same way you guys treated Nylander. 12 months ago you all were saying how incredible Marner was and how he is/will be a top 3 winger in the league but now that its time to pay up you all attack his character. Just seems a little weird.

 

[Taurrax]

What happen when you compared your salary to other company around and you see you arent being paid what you really worth ? you leave your company to get paid at your juste potentiel

Thing is that he isn't depending on comparables from another organization, it's always Matthews the centerman. Plus no one is willing to offer sheet him so he can say bye-bye to any potential leverage.

 

[RogerRoger]

If this stretches out into the season and the Leafs don't budge, I could Mitch finally relenting, signing and firing Ferris shortly after.

Do you have anything to base this on?

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Well Leaf nation was telling us Mathhews was the best guy in the league for a while until McDavid completly left him in the dust. And yes I "Should" be talking **** because Leaf nation was so confident and cocky about these 3 guys and how they would all take these huge discounts that Toronto is entitled to for some reason, yet all 3 of them took the franchise to the cleaners on the contracts they are signing/ rejecting.

Nice to see you guys completely throw Marner under the bus now that he still hasn't signed. Same way you guys treated Nylander. 12 months ago you all were saying how incredible Marner was and how he is/will be a top 3 winger in the league but now that its time to pay up you all attack his character. Just seems a little weird.

On ice skill doesn't mean a player is immune from criticism. People want Marner but he's not going to sign what's been offered than it's time to move on. If he's still mad about not getting a bonus that 99% of his fans would be lucky to get just 1% of then he needs to grow-up. Sorry if we don't have sympathy about a guy about to make over a hundred million dollars being unhappy he's not getting even more.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

Thing is that he isn't depending on comparables from another organization, it's always Matthews the centerman. Plus no one is willing to offer sheet him so he can say bye-bye to any potential leverage.

ya, and offer sheeting him would offer Dubas a nice easy way out that other Eastern teams don't want

 

[Leaf Fans]

Well Leaf nation was telling us Mathhews was the best guy in the league for a while until McDavid completly left him in the dust. And yes I "Should" be talking **** because Leaf nation was so confident and cocky about these 3 guys and how they would all take these huge discounts that Toronto is entitled to for some reason, yet all 3 of them took the franchise to the cleaners on the contracts they are signing/ rejecting.

Nice to see you guys completely throw Marner under the bus now that he still hasn't signed. Same way you guys treated Nylander. 12 months ago you all were saying how incredible Marner was and how he is/will be a top 3 winger in the league but now that its time to pay up you all attack his character. Just seems a little weird.

Marner hasn't been thrown under the bus; we want to sign him.

 

[DFC]

if i was gm i would've. the team gave you an offer they deemed was reasonable by your asinine standards, you reject it and complain about it to every pundit.

If you pull an offer off the table on sheer emotion, rather than a change in circumstance, you might as well trade the player. I think the Leafs leaked the offer because they want us to know what Marner rejected. But it's still on the table. Otherwise the relationship can't be salvaged, because it's not like they went out and signed another player. They would have just lowered the offer based on spite.

 

[Confucius]

Why giving up 4 1sts if you can get him cheaper via trade?

If I was GM I'd call the bluff of him sitting out. No Trade. Will Marner sit out for 5 more years, giving up 50 million? Yeah sure. Lmao

 

[Dekes For Days]

same salaries for his top winger and top center prospect... Which he clearly forgot to do with Marner

Kane and Toews were way way closer in quality of player than Matthews and Marner are.