At the end of the day, you need to realize what value the player is providing to the team, whether he is a UFA or RFA. Marner will likely live up to a deal even if its an overpay. The only complaint is that he's signing it as an RFA and not a UFA. Really, its about how does their production match what they are doing. Even at a 11m dollars, Marner is likely to play up to that value. It is inconvenient for us that RFA's are now getting paid. But, you can't let an elite talent like Marner walk. You are highly unlikely to win that scenario. Its better to overpay, then shop one of he, Matthews or Nylander in a year, where they likely hold more value.
You cannot build a winning team that way, if you pay more for the same talents you will end up with less talent than your competitors, that is a fundamental fact if your going to overpay players
If there is no comparable for an 11M+ Marner and no offersheet coming in to force us to pay Marner 11M+ why the he'll are we paying him 11M+ exactly? He's an RFA so that looks like straight up capitulation to me when Marner has a lot less leverage than he did before the offersheet threat fizzled out
I say sit his ass and make him take something in line with the rest of the league, then it's up to him, sign an offersheet and we get some resolution and can match if we want or he doesn't play NHL hockey for the foreseeable future
I'm OK either way