Mitch Marner and Leafs' Game of Chicken Seems Like It'll End in Chaos
By Michael Luciano
With their second-best offensive player on the market as a free agent, the Toronto Maple Leafs have decided to play hardball with 22-year-old rising star Mitch Marner.
Marner is a restricted free agent, and teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders in need of Marner's offensive creativity are gearing up a potential offer sheet. While the Maple Leafs will likely match any offer sheet, it sounds like they and Marner, who led the team with 68 assists and 94 points last year, are still far apart on any potential long-term deal.
As for Marner, my view from afar is that it’s probably close to or at the point where TOR hopes an offer sheet is tendered. That would allow/force closure, one way or the other. Match the offer sheet or take the compensation, but it would be done.
— Bobby Margarita (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 15, 2019
In a sense, the Leafs have turned this whole affair into one giant game of chicken, and are desperately waiting for one party to blink first.
Despite Marner's apparent wish to stay in Toronto, the Leafs' cost-cutting ways just a year removed from backing up the Brinks truck for John Tavares and Auston Matthews, could make a long-term deal north of the border hard to come by.
Elliotte Friedman on the current state of the Mitch Marner negotiations (31 Thoughts Podcast): pic.twitter.com/1KbEtdWtVe
— The Leafs IMO (@TheLeafsIMO) July 14, 2019
If people are wondering why the Leafs haven't won the cup since expansion in 1967, it's due to peculiar moves like this. Sure, it's likely Toronto will match any offer sheet Marner signs, but couldn't this all be avoided fairly easily? Pay up, Toronto.