The current announcement of Leon Draisaitl‘s eight-year, $112 million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers will formally make Draisaitl the highest-paid participant within the NHL. Whereas the Oilers have secured their celebrity for the long run, the ripple results of this deal could possibly be felt far past Edmonton—and notably in Toronto, the place Mitch Marner’s camp could search a contract just like Draisaitl’s, with a mean annual worth (AAV) of $14 million.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared on Sportsnet Radio 590 that Marner’s camp, initially rumored to be a $12 million AAV, has probably shifted his considering in gentle of Draisaitl’s deal. The query turns into, is Marner price rather more? And, ought to he need extra, ought to the Maple Leafs be involved?
Maple Leafs Shouldn’t Pay $14 Million For Marner, Ought to They?
If the Toronto Maple Leafs had been to satisfy the brand new price ticket, Marner would grow to be one of many highest-paid gamers within the league. Nevertheless, this potential contract might have important ramifications for the Leafs’ wage cap flexibility, forcing the group to make a troublesome name.
For Leafs Basic Supervisor Brad Treliving, it wouldn’t be a straightforward choice to make. Marner is a key participant for the Leafs and shedding him would sting. But, committing $14 million per yr to Marner might solely worsen the membership’s odds of sustaining a balanced and aggressive roster.
Associated: Can the Oilers Hold Each Draisaitl and McDavid? Friedman Weighs In
Marner isn’t precisely Draisaitl both. Evaluating the 2 gamers’ playoff performances units the Oilers ahead aside in a reasonably important approach. Draisaitl has been a dominant pressure within the postseason, averaging 1.46 factors per recreation (PPG) within the playoffs. In distinction, Marner’s playoff manufacturing stands at 0.88 PPG, making him roughly 60% as productive. If the Maple Leafs had been to argue that playoff efficiency is a key think about figuring out what to pay Marner, his adjusted wage primarily based on this comparability, could be a lot much less.
One Journalist Says Maple Leafs Shouldn’t Issue In Draisaitl’s Deal
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Solar highlights the drastic distinction between Draisaitl and Marner when attempting to find out if the 2 are comparable. Simmons means that Draisaitl’s capacity to attain, move, compete, and lead his group deep into the playoffs makes his $14 million AAV appear nearly like a cut price for the Oilers. His playoff efficiency ranks him fifth all-time in PPG, behind legends like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Connor McDavid.
Alternatively, whereas Marner has been a constant regular-season performer, his playoff contributions have been much less impactful.
Due to that, Simmons writes that the Leafs ought to wait. The Oilers know what they’ve in Draisaitl — each within the common season and playoffs — however the Maple Leafs must know what they’ve in Marner. Simmons writes of the Draisaitl deal, “It’s not a measuring level, per se, of what Draisaitl is being paid. It’s extra of some extent of comparability.”
He provides:
Across the hockey world, the $14 million Draisaitl signed for will for now be used as a gauge for everybody from their second contracts on. Marner ought to slide in someplace between the $10.9 million he at the moment is paid and beneath the $14 million Draisaitl will make.
supply – ‘SIMMONS: Unaffected by Leon Draisaitl deal, Leafs are enjoying ready recreation with Mitch Marner’ – Steve Simmons – Toronto Solar – 09/03/2024
The Draisaitl extension has undoubtedly altered the panorama of Marner’s contract negotiations. Whereas Marner’s camp will probably use Draisaitl’s deal as a benchmark, it stays to be seen whether or not the Leafs will really feel obliged to satisfy him there. Simmons believes that if Marne stays in Toronto, he’ll get greater than he would probably get elsewhere. The Leafs are identified for overpaying gamers. However, will he get $14 million? To see him get wherever shut would imply he’d must have an unimaginable playoff efficiency this season.
