Mitch Marner and his camp believe that he should be one of the highest-paid players in the NHL. Despite his inability to succeed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs, Marner is a valuable piece, eclipsing 100 points for the first time in his career this past season. However, it could prove costly for a team if they make the winger one of the wealthiest men in the sport.
The projection for Marner’s next deal would be approximately $13 million per year, according to The Athletic. It gives Marner a seven-year, $91 million contract, but the $12.5 million annual number would align him with fellow winger Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen recently signed an eight-year extension with the Dallas Stars, but the total salary would be different, given the Finnish star was able to secure an extra year.
The only way Marner would land a similar value at that cap hit would be to re-sign with the Maple Leafs, which would give him eight years instead of the seven he would get signing elsewhere. The possibility of that happening seems unlikely at this point in the team’s offseason, which means Marner would likely try to make up the salary difference with higher annual payments on the seven-year deal.
The difference between Marner and Rantanen is that one has a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche, and the other flames out every year in the postseason. Paying for the Leafs’ winger’s production in the regular season is worthwhile for getting teams to the playoffs, but does that matter if he fails to show up when the lights get brightest?
There will be a team that gives him at least $12.5 million annually this offseason, likely more. The only question is whether it’ll be worth it for the team that takes the risk.
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