Mitch Marner is Hijacking the Leafs Chances at a Stanley Cup

Just sign the contract, already.

We are less than a month away from the NHL season, and Mitch Marner is still holding out from Toronto Maple Leafs team events because of ongoing contract negotiations, even though the two sides are apparently moving forward.

Look, Marner is a fine player, and a key factor in the Maple Leafs trying to end what would be a 53-year Stanley Cup drought by the end of the season. On the other hand, he's asking for a lot of money.

The Leafs have offered Marner $11 million a year. That may not seem like much considering the ridiculous NBA and MLB contracts nowadays, but that is a very high amount in the National Hockey League. Marner is insane if he thinks he is worth even as much, let alone more than, Auston Matthews.

In three seasons, Matthews has 111 goals, 94 assists, and the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. In three seasons, Marner does have 157 assists, and 224 points, but only 67 goals. In the playoffs, Marner has five goals, but Matthews has 10.

Marner and his agent believe the Maple Leafs are undervaluing him, but they are already overvaluing him. This summer, Marner claimed he was worth $10 million a year. The Leafs have already offered him $1 million more than that and he still has not signed.

Look, he's clearly a great player, probably third best on the team after Matthews and John Tavares, but this team needs him to take the money and just be ready to skate until June.

Yet, if Matthews can "settle" for about $11.6 million, then what's keeping Marner from helping this team win a Cup right now?