According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Toronto restricted free agent Mitch Marner turned down an offer in July that would have put him among the current best-paid NHL players. The offer was $11 million per season and would have tied Marner with Drew Doughty and teammate John Tavares for fourth highest in the league. The problem is, the Leafs wanted Marner to sign for seven or eight years, while his camp wants a shorter term.
Dreger says the Marner camp remains focused on a short term, three-year deal that would allow the young RFA to cash in once more during his prime years, while the Leafs seem intent on pushing a longer term deal. Dreger notes that Dubas' offer to Marner would have paid the winger $1.6 Million in B bonuses that the Leafs' brass would not pay Marner on his entry level contract, in addition to the $11 million AAV.
The Leafs currently have a projected cap hit of $85.35 million, close to $4 million above the ceiling. However, the contracts of David Clarkson and Nathan Horton will be moved to long-term injured reserve (LTIR) once the regular season begins (10.5 million AAV combined), while it's looking like a possibility that Zach Hyman and Travis Dermott will join them on LTIR ($3.13 million AAV combined). A couple of players can also be optioned to the minors, freeing up more room.
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