Maple Leafs need to get Matthews and Marner signed sooner than later
Damien Cox of The Toronto Star: The Winnipeg Jets were proactive with Nikolaj Ehlers and signed him to a seven-year, $42 million extension last October. The Toronto Maple Leafs took a different approach with William Nylander and let him play out his entry-level deal.
The Maple Leafs need to do everything they can to not be in the same situation with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner next year as they are with Nylander now.
The fact that the Maple Leafs have already held contract talks with Matthews and Marner’s camp suggests that they realize this as well.
The Leafs need to get all of Nylander, Matthews, and Marner signed during the season, which would them the offseason to make roster adjustments.
Michael Traikos of The Toronto Sun: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner said he’s not thinking about his contract and he doesn’t want to hear about it.
“If there’s any talking, I don’t want to hear too much of it,” said Marner, who is in the final year of his entry-level contract but whose agent said he won’t negotiate until the end of the season. “I’ll let those two (his agent and Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas) talk about it. Obviously, if it gets there and it gets finished it will be great for us. It will be awesome to sign that.
“But I think either side is not trying to pressure one another. We’re just trying to do the best we can this season and then see what happens in the summer.”
Both Marner and Auston Matthews will definitely be watching how the William Nylander contract situation plays out.
Matthews is also trying not to think about his pending contract situation.
“That’s why we’ve got agents,” said Matthews. “I keep repeating myself, but let them handle it and I’m not really focused on that. I just want to play hockey. Go from there.”
Nylander’s next contract ties into Matthews and Marner’s next deal. If Nylander gets $8 million per season, the price would go up for Matthews and Marner.