Mitch Marner already involved in contract negotiations drama!
There is still time, but in Toronto, there is never enough money…
HockeyFeed
As soon as Auston Matthews’ signed a four-year, $53 million extension that ties him to the Toronto Maple Leafs until 2028 was announced, the focus shifted to how much money he is making and what will be left for his teammates. His contract carries an AAV of $13.25 million, which will make Matthews the league’s highest-paid player beginning in 2024-25. Toronto has to figured out contract extensions for William Nylander and Mitch Marner, and whilst there is still a lot of time left for the latter, whose deal ends up once the 2024-25 campaign is over, loud chatter is emerging on what he will demand in terms of money.
Sportsnet’s Luke Fox knows it’s too soon to freak out about this, but wonder if it is “safe to assume Matthews’ $13.25 million is the Maple Leafs’ new internal ceiling? Or could an increased term for Marner equate to a higher AAV?”
Fox adds: “Project the 13.38 per cent salary share Marner secured in 2029-20 to 2025-26 and you’re looking at an AAV around $12.32 million.”
To all of these ifs and maybes, you have to add in the mix that once Marner is able to sign, the cap ceiling will be higher and moves will have been made in Toronto by GM Brad Treliving to improve his roster. Marner’s $10.9-million AAV was negotiated with former general manager Kyle Dubas and its no-move clause snapped in place on July 1.
Most fans were already fed up with the comparaisons and projections, since they just want through it all summer long with Matthews, but it will be mentioned over and over this season as we will closely analyze Marner’s play and how he will work at earning a boatload of money, and maybe push his annual salary closer to Matthews’.
Especially since we all know Marner is better than Matthews when it comes to playoff time.
Yep, you can smell the drama already…
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