It's been quiet on the contract negotiation front between the Maple Leafs and Marner, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I firmly believe that if Marner was willing to sign a Nylander-like extension, it would have been done well before now. And that’s including the fact Nylander’s $11.5 million cap hit, bumped up percentage-wise for a $92.5 million cap, would mean something in the neighborhood of a $12.1 million contract over eight years.

That would be the fifth-highest AAV in the league next year, trailing only Leon Draisaitl ($14 million), Matthews ($13.25M), Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6M) and Connor McDavid ($12.5 million), the true elite of the elite — four players who have won the last five league MVPs.

But it won’t be enough to get this deal done.

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  • breakfastmtnOPMEnglish
    2·
    6 days ago

    Part of that’s just the cap rising. Even though there’s just a $1M difference between McDavid and Nylander, McDavid’s salary at the time of signing was ~17% of the cap (I think); Nylander’s was ~13%.

    • ryan213MEnglish
      2·
      6 days ago

      McDavid would be 15+ if he signed today.

      Still, not sure about spending 12M on Marner. Even Willy is pretty steep.

      • breakfastmtnOPMEnglish
        2·
        6 days ago

        I think Marner is probably worth more than Nylander because he just does so much more. But I agree that Nylander is probably getting $1M more than he “should” be. I do think Marner would get $13M easy from another team for sure though.

        I hope the cap actually goes up $9M next year. Plus getting “back” ~$5M from Tavares’ new contract. Then I don’t really care what they give him! Shower him with jewels for all I care!