3:25pm: The Lions have confirmed the request from Marner’s camp to practice with the team, though it has not been decided if it will happen.
12:20pm: As we’ve seen in the past with unsigned restricted free agents deep into unflinching contract negotiations, at some point in the summer they start to consider their non-NHL options. Skating with teams in Europe or using the KHL as a potential negotiating tactic are often the way things play out and it looks like this offseason will be no different. Rick Dhaliwal of Sportsnet has spoken with a source in Europe that tells him Mitch Marner’s camp has already reached out to the Zurich Lions of the Swiss NLA in case a deal can’t get done with the Toronto Maple Leafs in time for the season. Something like this does not by any means indicate that a contract won’t be signed between Marner and the Maple Leafs, but it would give him a potential place to keep his game sharp on a temporary basis.
The fact that it is Zurich may come as no surprise, given Auston Matthews’ connection with the organization and friendship with Marner. Matthews decided to play his draft year in Switzerland instead of North America, challenging himself against professionals before his eventual leap into the NHL. Zurich is known as an extremely stable organization and this season will have Rikard Gronborg behind the bench as head coach.
It is also important to note that these discussions with European or KHL teams rarely actually end up in a player spending time away from the NHL. In fact, other clients of Darren Ferris (Marner’s agent) have been known to use the Russian league as a leverage point over the years to try and get a deal done in North America. Both Sam Bennett and Andreas Athanasiou, clients of Ferris, were linked to the KHL in the summer of 2017 when they were at contract impasses with their respective clubs.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that Marner isn’t looking for a place to suit up and get on the ice however, similar to how William Nylander kept in shape with Swedish and Austrian clubs during his situation last year. If anything, this will hopefully put some pressure on both sides to get something done in the next few weeks as we are now less than a month away from training camp.
So he’s gonna go play for 4-500k and leave 10 million on the table? Even if he sits out the whole year the leafs aren’t gonna go oh wow you sure showed us here’s your 13 million
its about leverage. as a good player he can threaten to play elsewhere unless he is paid, and Toronto will have to debate paying hin properly or losing his production. its a question of if he really will go through with it.
I’m sure if 10 million were offered he’d be signed by now. Dubas seems to want him to take a team friendly deal after giving out three at market or overpaid deals. Why would Marner bite after watching that happen?
oh no, what about the poor fools waiting on him to sign though?
Yaaaaaas
Some of these poor fools , need to get off their backside, and can take a short term bridge deal for a couple of years , and hopefully as been written that the salary cap will go up. cause the way it is going some teams are gonna be missing some key players with holdouts , with training camps opening up very soon I don’t see much hopes of having players like Boeser, Marner and few others in camp. Some need to let their greed and ego go and sign short term contracts. something needs to be done. or will be a long year in NHL.
Why so the team and owners can continue to get elite production for a meagre cap hit? There is so much high caliber young talent its easy to see why they want big contracts now while they have proven their worth and are healthy. Bridge contracts are for mid level players who have yet to fully break out, not all stars.
there is no reason any player should play for any team for less then what they are worth, namedly players this good. They shouldnt have to settle for less then their value because no one has space. given just how many players are unsigned, the NHL needs to pick back up the proverbial ball and put through an emergancy rise in the salery cap.
Well Mitch will be settling for less than one mil in Switzerland. And the NHL can’t do an ‘emergency rise’ because the cap is based on revenue from the previous year and has been set. Nothing the NHL can do but watch the PA pass on taking the CBA extension
How about none of the RFA kids get signed? That way the precedent of playing 3 or even 2 years in the NHL doesn’t guarantee you 7+ million for 6+ years
It’s a joke and I hope this is addressed at the next bargaining discussion
Completely agree,,,I think the leafs are ready to take a stance,,,for themselves and the league as a whole. Rumour has an offer of 8 x 10.5,,,if that’s true and he’s balking,,,,enjoy Swiss cheese
it will have to be whatever the top bracket offer sheet number is or else. otherwise he’s gone and you only get second bracket compensation.
He’s not leaving on a second bracket offer,,,,,that’s 100%
He signs somewhere else for whatever,,,,,,it’s 4 firsts for Leafs,,,he won’t sign an offer sheet for anything less
Mitchie’s daddy says he is not taking a penny less than Matthews. This whole thing makes me want to vomit. I am becoming less and less of a sports fan each day.
You prefer the billionaires pocket more money?
Line 1) Johnsson Matthews Nylander
2)Mikheyev Tavares Kapanen
3)Moore Kerfoot Spezza
4) Petan Gauthier Reed
Reserves: Agostino Aberg/Bracco
Reilly Barrie
Muzzin Harpur
Ceci Dermott
Don’t want him on the Leafs but don’t want him out of the league…. hmmm hard choice
Humm what if he wore a winged wheel sweater, would you like him more?
Instead of waiting around for Marner to sign as has been written countless time, if quality free agents would contact their agents and teams that they are willing to sit down and work out some kind of contract , Marner is just pulling a Nylander, Dubas needs to get tough and say come in and talk , we are less than month away from training camps opening and their has been no movement if Marner don’t want to play let him play overseas , he will eventually get the message , he hasn’t been around the league long enough to garner $10 million + , he is a good player albeit but hasn’t done nothing as of yet to get that much. Some players need to step up and come to realize the cap is not changing , money is limited , if he can’t get the message guess the Swiss League will give him a few pennies and lifetime supply of Swiss Chocolate.
Thanks sheff forgot the D-Core and Liljegren and Gravel will get looks as well.