Maple Leafs have given Mitch Marner final ultimatum on next contract!

The Toronto Maple Leafs are believed to be in conversations with forward Mitch Marner about a contract extension. However, the discussion might have just taken an ugly turn, according to insider Pierre LeBrun.

On Thursday, LeBrun reported on TSN’s OverDrive that the Maple Leafs will not accept to pay Marner more than captain Auston Matthews regardless of who is producing more… Marner is on pace for a career year with the Maple Leafs. His 15 goals and 44 assists in 43 games put him in the team lead in points at the midway point of the season. But the Leafs are set in catering to their captain:

“It’s not been a headline story which is unbelievable. What I would tell you is that there is no question part of the dialogue that is a stumbling block is that much like Nathan MacKinnon’s cap number much like Mikko Rantanen , they are pointing to Auston Matthews and I understand from a team perspective.

“From an agent perspective, the salary cap is going up aggressively and depending on what happens it could be more. It’s not the AAV that matters it’s the percentage of the cap; and if the cap is going up it’s a real stumbling block.

“Is there a way to massage an AAV with a deferment on a Marner extension? Potentially, but that doesn’t appeal to 90% of agents; and since the Frank Vatrano extension they are against the idea.

“It comes down to this. I don’t think the Leafs feel they can or will pay more than $13M, $12.5M? Is that enough for an 8-year deal? If that’s where it is, that’s the I think that’s the clear line of demarcation, $13 million a year.”

Marner is playing the final year of a six-year, $65.41 million contract and becomes a pending unrestricted free agent and can leave the team scot free this upcoming offseason. Last season, a similar situation took place when teammate William Nylander, who played through the season without an extension, ended up signing an eight-year, $92 million contract on January 2024.

I don’t expect a deal to Marner will come at the end of this month if the issue remains that Toronto wants to keep Auston Matthews their highest paid player. I mean Marner is on pace to have over 100 points, and currently sits second in the NHL in assists and fourth in points! Maybe the Leafs want to see what he can do in the postseason?

I still feel like Marner deserves to get paid and if that ultimatum remains then maybe the star forward will walk scot free in the summer…