Frustrating Mitch Marner rumour drawing the ire of Leafs Nation

The market seems to reset almost every year when the next superstar is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Nathan MacKinnon didn't last all too long as the highest paid player in the NHL before Auston Matthews signed his next contract. After Matthews, it was expected to be Leon Draisaitl, but it sounds like Marner's agent may be trying to land his client a payday more significant than originally thought.

Now of course, take this rumour with a grain of salt, but it shouldn't come as a surprise that Marner's camp is going to start negotiations at a $13M-$14M AAV. The ebbs and flows of a negotiation will probably kick that number down, but according to this rumour, that number could fall around $12.7M to $12.9M per season.

Not only would that be around $1.2 million dollars more per season than William Nylander (on the low end), but that would make him the 2nd highest paid player in the NHL - behind only Matthews.

Furthermore, Marner's camp is apparently using Artemi Panarin's contract as a comparable, where he signed at 14.29% of the salary cap, which when adjusted comes to $13.2 million today.

The Maple Leafs would truly find themselves in a pickle were they to agree to Marner's asking price. If Marner earns $12.7 million, then the trio of Matthews, Marner and Nylander would account for $37.45 million dollars of the projected $92 million salary cap in 2025-26, which would put them back to square one.

2024-25 is going to be a big year for a lot of players but perhaps none more important than Marner. In a contract year, he will want to prove his doubters wrong and that he is deserving of such a lucrative contract. If Marner exceeds all expectations this year and has himself a career campaign then that will only be a boon for the 2024-25 Maple Leafs because that should lead to post-season success.

However that's a big ask and the clock is ticking.

Source for cap info: PuckPedia
Maple Leafs salary information