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Report: Mitch Marner signs six-year extension with Toronto Maple Leafs

By Ian Oland and Donya Abramo

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September 13, 2019 7:06 pm

The biggest RFA drama of the summer is finally over.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Mitch Marner has signed a six-year extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Marner’s deal will carry an AAV of $10.893 million over the six years.

CapFriendly posted some further information about the deal, including the fact that the Leafs currently sit at $13,365,199 above the cap hit. However, as CapFriendly has noted, the Leafs are due to place both David Clarkson and Nathan Horton on LTIR at the end of Training Camp, which will provide them with a cap relief of $10.55 million. Forward Zach Hyman is also injured, and could be eligible for LTIR.

Details surrounding the negotiations between the Leafs and Marner’s camp had trickled out slowly over the last few days. According to Dreger, the Leafs had extended an $11 million offer with B bonuses in June, but were pursuing a seven or eight-year term.

This was backed up by Friedman in his 31 Thoughts column, where he wrote, “My belief is Toronto is willing to go to an $11-million AAV, but only if he signs for seven years. I’d heard both sides might agree to two years — then let arbitration sort it out — but a few sources threw cold water on that. I mentioned during a radio hit last week the rumour that Marner’s representatives pitched a three-year contract with a structure similar to the Meier/Werenski setup, with the third season as high as $15 million. However, I’m told that was several months ago and is no longer relevant, although both sides have continued to explore that kind of an option.”

TSN’s Bob McKenzie noted in his own report that the lower AAV and longer term were the aspects that hadn’t been palatable for Marner.

Marner had a career-best season in 2018-19, with 26 goals and 94 points. He was the leading point scorer on the Leafs for two seasons running, and the 11th-highest in the NHL during the 2018-19 season.

Whether you believe the contract is an overpay for Marner or not, Leafs fans must be relieved that the contract is locked up just a few days into Training Camp.

Headline photo: @marner.93