Sorry but the reaction to Marner’s contract began the second he signed it. He negotiated hardball because the other two didn’t need to.
There was no way management was going to let another Toronto boy free agent slip away. JT was going to get paid and he got paid well essentially to be the 2C. Obviously, not a normal 2C but that was his role. Matthews was going to get more as a genuine league superstar and as the guy ahead of JT and he got paid big time when you consider $ and term.
When it came to Marner’s contract, he had just come off leading the team in points but it sorry, we’re out of money. The fan reaction to his hardball negotiations was that a good Toronto boy should be happy to be playing for his hometown team and take a discount. Since then he, not Matthews has taken the poop for contracts and for every playoff failure. All I hear (in general, not directed at you) is that Auston couldn’t score because he was tired from carrying Marner around.
Dubas gave three elite players elite contracts. We’ve seen how the team can play at times when they are playing their best. None of them have stepped up sufficiently in the playoffs, but it’s all the fault of the one who’s paid the least.
- Canada Cup
Let's take a step back. I AGREE WITH EVERY THING YOU POSTED.
And I want this to be clear for once.....I didn't hate the contracts signed by Marner, Matthews or Tavares at the time they were signed. JT -UFA. Matthews-duh. Marner-almost duh. But life is fluid and things change.
A few key things have happened.
1. 3 Forwards now with very big contracts....I know, great problem to have. 3 amazing players finally on this team that deserve to get paid and they all got every possible penny they could. But, it kinda threw the balance of the line up out of whack.
2. Lack of playoff success after those contracts were signed. (not playoff success and then the demand of top dollar)
3. Covid/Flat Cap. Just such a leafy way to get (frank)ed. A (frank)ing global pandemic
4. With one injury to JT we saw just how easy it is to neutralize the Leafs potent offense and the D isn't good enough to hold low scoring, close games.
Now the Leafs are in the worst case scenario, flat cap for the amount of time our star center is signed and ready to go UFA...and we're losing other assets to FA due to lack of $$$. So far NONE OF THIS IS JUST MARNER'S FAULT for the record.
The simple problem is either balancing out the money better in the line up OR ride this group and hope they step up to win the Cup.
Some of us don't have the confidence this team is built right on the back end or bottom 6 or G to do that....and then losing assets just because some think the Leafs are going for it each year, well that's just a poop storm that hits this team in a bad way later down the road.
If they don't find more success this season, a tough decision will have to be made and I don't think it's going to be one of the $11m top notch centers, one with a NTC too. The slightly overpaid winger and his $11m is the best/easiest-hardest/most effective way to solve all the issues.
Had Marner taken $1-1.4m less and scored a little more in the playoffs, no one would even look in his direction. If he was $9.333M/5yrs, not a hint of poop would be sent his way. But if you fight for Patty Kane money, be Patty Kane in the playoffs.
There are a few $7M/70pt wingers around the league that do quite well in the playoffs too, we have one of them.
I don't care about winning 8-2 in the regular season. I care about winning 2-1 in game 7s of the Cup Final. Period.
Marner at $10.9M OR $7M winger with jam, $4M extra cap, +$1.2M Kessel + $2.75 (lose Engvall/Dermott).
I'd take the $7M winger and a $4m #4RHD and extend Rielly (= $3m raise) and a little raise for Campbell.
Ritchie, Matthews, $7MWinger
Bunting, Tavares, Nylander
Kerfoot, Kampf, Kase
Amadia, Spezza, Simmonds
Rielly, Brodie
Muzzin, $4MRHD
Sandin, Holl
Liljegren
Campbell
Mrazek
IMHO a team with balance like that will win way more than ours if we lose one of our Centers again....especially in the playoffs when a $10.9 Winger goes soft and our other Center gets 2 on 1 coverage.
