Marner’s agent meets with Dubas … Behind the scenes talk of offer sheets for RFAs
Josh Beneteau of Sportsnet: Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas met with Mitch Marner‘s agent before the Leafs game against the New Jersey Devils on December 18th. Ferris is also expected to be in Toronto this weekend.
Chris Johnston on Headlines added that he doesn’t believe Marner wants to sign an extension during the season.
“While I believe the dialogue is positive, I’m still not convinced Mitch Marner wants to do a deal in season,” Johnston said. “I believe he’s still waiting for Auston Matthews but the dialogue has accelerated since Kyle Dubas met the media this week.”
Nick Kypreos adds that Marner may want to wait until after July 1st because a team could then send him an offer sheet.
“Not only Marner but many of these pending restricted free agents are certainly intrigued by the offer sheet,” Kypreos said. “There’s a lot of people I’m sure, including Kyle Dubas, who believe that’s a lot of white noise. But behind the scenes I believe there are multiple teams telling these agents that there’s a distinct possibility we will offer sheet your player.
“In saying that, there’s a big difference between someone talking about that around Christmas and actually having the guts to do it on July 1.”
What do the Canucks do with Tanev and Edler?
Chris Nichols of Nichols of Hockey: Elliotte Friedman was on Sportsnet 960 and was asked about the Vancouver Canucks and how they may handle the trade deadline this year. Adding more prospects would be nice but they are also trying to sell tickets.
Both GM Jim Benning and coach Travis Green have also said they want to keep veteran defenseman like Chris Tanev and Alex Edler to show their younger players how to play and to protect them while they are still learning.
“I’m looking at it and I could see how you’d be saying, ‘Boy, if we trade those two guys, we’re not going to be as good.’ And when you trade guys like that, you know what you start saying? ‘Boy, we could really use a guy like that.’
“I see the conundrum there for those guys, I really do.
“And don’t forget Edler, who’s a free agent this year, has never shown any inclination to leaving Vancouver. He’s never wanted to do it. So I think that’s going to be interesting.”