Much speculated news of Mitch Marner not wanting to return to the Toronto Maple Leafs has been all but confirmed this week. The free agent market opens on July 1st and Marner will be the creme de la creme of the class. For that reason, may experts believe he’s set to drive a price as high as $100 million.
More specifically, the contract emerging is a seven-year, $14 million AAV. But three time Stanley Cup Champion Ken Daneyko doesn’t think he’s worth the bacon.
“$14 million, huh? We are here to give opinions, right? I ain’t giving him $14 million in a million years,” Daneyko said on NHL Tonight. “[It’s] not because I don’t like Mitch Marner, not because he is not one of the most skilled players in national hockey- he gets close to 100 points yearly.”
“Until you prove to me you can be a big-game player, I don’t care if you have 200 points. I’m not paying you that kind of money.”
Daneyko then suggested that a player like Sam Bennett, whos currently playing in the Stanley Cup Finals, is a safer bet. His closing remark was that if he is going to over pay for a player, he would splurge on a guy like Bennett.
Carolina Hurricanes Emerge As The Favorite In Marner Sweep Stakes
The Carolina Hurricanes have been on the precipice of league glory this decade, but unable to secure a player that makes that final push possible. This year, the Hurricanes sent off their biggest star, Mikko Rantanen, and saved themselves nearly $100 million in the process.
Now it’s time for Carolina to put their money where their mouth is.
“When/if Mitch Marner hits the open market July 1, the expectation is the Carolina Hurricanes are going to take a massive swing to try and sign him,” posted the editor and chief of The Fourth Period, Dan Pagnotta. “Sources say we shouldn’t be surprised if they go above $14M on an AAV over a 7-year term. UFA market opens in 18 days.”
Jacob Punturi says the Canes owe it to themselves to right the wrongs of their past by securing a top end talent long term.
“The move would certainly be a ‘massive swing’ for the Canes, but it’s clear that they are responding to their earlier failures with plans to do even better,” Punturi wrote. “Adding Marner would be the biggest addition to the franchise since Rantanen, and they’d be getting him in his prime. The perennial 100-point scorer would be the perfect addition to a team on the cusp of a championship. His offensive presence could put the team over the top, finally.”
The Five Teams That Can Afford Marner
Though it is still too early to tell, many outlets report that there are five big fish in the Mitch Marner pond. The first of which is obviously the Carolina Hurricanes. The next on the list, and team with the least money to offer, is the Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights give Marner an opportunity to win now, but might not be able to match the figures from the other three players.
The next teams to keep an eye on are the Anaheim Ducks, the Utah Mammoth, and the Chicago Blackhawks. Each of these teams are interesting for their own reason.
In Anaheim, Marner would be joining an already established young core with the opportunity to take over and grow with a promising young team. In Utah, Marner has the opportunity to become the face of a franchise. His name would become synonymous with Utah hockey. Lastly, in Chicago, Marner would pair up with one of the leagues biggest stars, while still remaining the number one option. He would be alongside a super star, but not playing second fiddle.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Stanley Cup Champion Says Mitch Marner Isn’t Worth His $100 Million Price Tag appeared first on Heavy Sports.