I've thought of a new strategy for Treliving to send a message loud and clear to Marner that his time has come.
BT should trade for a top 4 Dman in the last year of his term and then resign him long-term starting to use up that available cap space for next season. Or make a big 1 year UFA signing with a follow-up extention in the works for 2026 and beyond when more cap space open up.
The more this type of situation occurs, it will be made clear there will be NO Room for a $12 mil extension for Marner, so there is no use holding out and on hoping, and start accepting his time in TO is over.
This forced leverage maneuver might make Marner and Agent become more willing and on board to work with Tre on a suitable trade to a team that might be willing to meet Marner's future demands.
Essentially Marner can hide behind his NMC this season but with a shrinking Cap space for next year in TO, it would prevent another overpayment and contract mistake and send a clear message that affordability will prevent Marner from achieving his next contract terms. If Leafs only have $8.5 mil free cap projected available you can't afford a $12 mil contract ask now can you?
Marner's own greed $$ the root cause why he priced himself out of Toronto.
i wanted treliving to walk away from tanev and sign Lindholm (2C) and Zadorov and then fill up the roster with dumpster diving. we plan for tavares leaving and get our 2C with Tavares playing 3C and limited ice-time this season and next season with both tavares and marner off the cap Leafs can fill out bottom 6 and defense.
Lindholm is a golden opportunity that Leafs shoudn't miss. I really think Leafs should still go for Lindholm and dump out Jarnkrok+Kampf.
they can ice this season:
Domi-Matthews-Knies
Robertson-Lindholm-Nylander
McMann-Tavares-Marner
4th line
Rielly Tanev* (he is now signed so unfortunately he is here now)
Zadorov Liljegren
Benoit McCabe
Woll
XXX
Treliving MUST get to it and SOON
Next season when tavares and marner are off the cap Leafs can really build the bottom 6 and defense. Meanwhile you up the value for Robertson too by playing him in top6 and then trade him replacing him with Cowan next season.
There is still a chance for Treliving to not completely F it up.