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Insider Shares Important News on Plans for Leafs' Knies, Tavares, Marner, Lorentz
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos has revealed the Leafs' plans to address the expiring contracts of Matthew Knies, John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Steven Lorentz.
After a rumour-filled trade deadline that forced GM Brad Treliving to clarify his stance on a pair of pending free agents in Matthew Knies and Mitch Marner, the focus has now turned to the cost of extensions for each of them.
Despite all the comments from both, with each stating that he wants to remain in Toronto, the Leafs have slow-played both negotiations, as well as negotiations for John Tavares and Steven Lorentz.
In December, Kypreos reported that the Leafs wanted to get an extension done with Lorentz. In his latest for the Toronto Star, however, Kypreos revealed that the Leafs don't plan to address any expiring contracts until the season comes to an end as they continue to weigh their options on each of them, including a a short-term deal for the unicorn that is Matthew Knies.
"From Toronto's perspective, a bridge deal might be best while they figure where Knies' ceiling truly lies," wrote Kypreos. "A four-year deal in the $25-million to $30-million range may not be what Knies wants, but could leave him hungry enough for the next payday."
Kypreos' colleague at Sportsnet, Jason Bukala believes Knies should be the priority out of them all, due to potential offersheets. Kypreos, on the other hand, wrote that the Leafs' top priority remains to sign Marner to an extension.
"Sounds like pending unrestricted free agents John Tavares and Steven Lorentz will have to wait until the off-season for new contract offers from the Leafs if they are to stay. Toronto's top priority remains to leave enough space to either pay Mitch Marner or lure one or two players to adequately replace him."
While the Leafs continue to work through their options behind closed doors, the team continues to push for top spot in the Atlantic division and home ice advantage with less than a dozen games until playoffs begin.
Regardless of how the Leafs fair in the post-season, it sounds like the weeks and days leading up to July 1st are going to be hectic for Treliving and the rest of management.
| POLL | ||
MARS 27 | 3955 ANSWERS Insider Shares Important News on Plans for Leafs' Knies, Tavares, Marner, Lorentz Who should the Leafs prioritize signing first? | ||
| Knies | 2131 | 53.9 % |
| Marner | 1492 | 37.7 % |
| Tavares | 332 | 8.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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