For Me.
Team.
Player.
Always. in that order. I don't care if you are a superstar or a guy on a PTO. I cheer for the Crest. not the name on the back.
I have zero qualms paying Mitch 11.5 million dollars. Hell. if the boy wanted 15m. i'd do that. Why? because the leafs are rich.
Problem. there is a Salary Cap (something i've ranted and raved that i hate. it punishes good teams who make money it punishes good teams who DO draft well into not keeping their talent, and people want it because "parity" and "it punishes dumb Gms." - which it doesn't just look at Philly and Hayes).
So in this Hard Cap Salary World (where we are really tight up against it) you can't pay everything whatever they demand. the Leafs in good conscience can not sign Mitch Marner to 11-11.5 (where i will point out that the guy who just won the Hart trophy, and has been better than Mitch, makes 9-9.5). when you are already paying a crap load of resources up front.
Now. Someone screwed up if the reports were that they could have signed Mitch for 8.5 for whatever. that's on them. but at the same time I don't agree that Mitch (in the economic world we live in) is worth 11.5 for short years. andI was honest that if i had to choose between Nylander/Mitch, Nylander would have gone, we get the resources from that trade you pay Mitch 8.5 (or less). and call a day a day. IF we had to choose.
Well guess what. Now we have to choose, and they chose Nylander, Tavares and Matthews. mitch thinks he's worth the moon (his right), we can't give him the moon. the Team's priority should be to ensure they have enough resources to be competitive next season (including cap space for trades) make sure their back end is tight, get a back up goalie, and fill in other holes.
I personally wouldn't even wait for the offer sheet. i'd be trying to make a blockbuster deal to get the 2nd overall pick, featuring Marner. OR. let the guy sign the offer sheet. because the Leafs would match anything under 10. and anything over 10. we get first 4 round picks). then if I were Dubas i'd flat out say Mitch wanted this, I have to do what's best for my team and making sure this organization wins a cup which trumps having a super star.
but that's just me.