Sign Marner and Tavares before playoffs?

[ToneDog]

Mirtle, Versteeg, Bunkis, McKee, Bourne have been on record saying Leafs should wait until after the playoffs before signing Marner and Tavares. This morning Korolnek and Feschuk said they do not see a reason to sign the pair before seeing how the team performs in the playoffs.

I'm on record saying there is no reason to sign them before the playoffs unless they give the Leafs a sweet, team friendly deal.

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[Evilhomer]

Mirtle, Versteeg, Bunkis, McKee, Bourne have been on record saying Leafs should wait until after the playoffs before signing Marner and Tavares. This morning Korolnek and Feschuk said they do not see a reason to sign the pair before seeing how the team performs in the playoffs.

I very much doubt the team will wait that long given that it didn't with Matthews or Nylander.

 

[WillyC]

Sign JT to a hometown discount right now… tell Mitch, a discounted offer is coming after the playoffs.

Mitch… please consider what Tavares has just done for the cap and the franchise…. we want both you and John to retire as Maple Leafs.

 

[DarkKnight]

Marner yes, JT no. JT doesn't want to leave here, you can play it out.

And finally a place to discuss Marner's contract, long over due to have a venue for fresh and new perspectives.

 

[ToneDog]

I very much doubt the team will wait that long given that it didn't with Matthews or Nylander.

So you voted yes. IMO it is risky to lock into this core if they lay another egg in April. I still do not see a reason to resign him early like they did with 34 and 88. I get giving Matty a blank cheque but no need to give Marner and Nylander top dollar before playoffs. Nylander signing before playoffs last year looking like a mistake. I see the same for Marner.

 

[WilliamInLondon]

I'd be happy to sign either or both as soon as possible without waiting for the playoffs if the terms are correct. 1) reasonable AAV 2) limited or no NMC/NTC.

- Marner $13M AAV x 8, max 7 team NMC
- Tavares $4.5M AAV x 4, max 5 team NTC (e.g. waiver eligible)

 

[ToneDog]

I'd be happy to sign either or both as soon as possible without waiting for the playoffs if the terms are correct. 1) reasonable AAV 2) limited or no NMC/NTC.

- Marner $13M AAV x 8, max 7 team NMC
- Tavares $4.5M AAV x 4, max 5 team NTC (e.g. waiver eligible)

Doubt he accepts a NMC and if you are going to give him $13mx8, which no team can match, why do it before the playoffs when he has been Alex Kerfoot in the last 12 playoff games.

 

[WilliamInLondon]

Doubt he accepts a NMC and if you are going to give him $13mx8, which no team can match, why do it before the playoffs when he has been Alex Kerfoot in the last 12 playoff games.

well, it's exactly that. give and take as part of standard negotiations.

I'd offer him the contractual security with the highest possible term prior to the playoffs, provided that he's willing to accept the terms of the NMC. Otherwise, would only be more willing to put an NMC/NTC prior to the playoffs if the AAV is willing to go down. If not, then I'd just roll with it going into the playoffs and potentially after. Both teams would assume risk in that scenario, just depends on whose appetite is greater.

 

[ToneDog]

This morning Dregs said Tavares wants market value probably in the $6m neighborhood. I'd pass unless they spread the money over 6 years like they did for Tanev.

As for Marner, he asks does Marner accept $13mx8 or does he push it away saying he is gong to test FA?

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

This morning Dregs said Tavares wants market value probably in the $6m neighborhood. I'd pass unless they spread the money over 6 years like they did for Tanev.

As for Marner, he asks does Marner accept $13mx8 or does he push it away saying he is gong to test FA?

Ya.. "market value" is 8 like Stamkos. I don't think we have to worry about that at all, though.

Anything with a 6 and a short term is a good deal for sure, but anything lower than that is a bona-fide steal and a true "hometown discount". If he's truly STARTING at 6, that's fantastic for us.

But ya - on both deals, this before/after playoffs nonsense is trivial - we're not in the room. Its just how us bored mid-season fans make it thru 82 games. The bottom line is, sign a good deal, at whatever price you can negotiate, at whatever time you both agree to it.

 

[Evilhomer]

So you voted yes. IMO it is risky to lock into this core if they lay another egg in April. I still do not see a reason to resign him early like they did with 34 and 88. I get giving Matty a blank cheque but no need to give Marner and Nylander top dollar before playoffs. Nylander signing before playoffs last year looking like a mistake. I see the same for Marner.

To be fair, I said what I think the team will do. If it was me, I would move on from Tavares regardless of the price. It seems I am now in the minority in that regard.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

I wouldn't sign either of them before the playoffs. It may motivate them to actually perform when it matters most.
They're both hometown players who have roots here, their preference would obviously be to stay. How exactly does it benefit us to pay up now?

If we get eliminated in the 1st round again, maybe it's time to start looking at roster construction cause it's further evidence that the top heavy approach doesn't work.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Hard no on both. Until otherwise proven, we are paper tigers and a team full of Demar Derozens.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Marner yes, JT no.

Likely Marner is going to get more expensive the longer he goes before signing. JT could have his drop off like he has the past few seasons where he seemed noticeably slower etc. after the halfway point.

 

[ToneDog]

Marner yes, JT no.

Likely Marner is going to get more expensive the longer he goes before signing. JT could have his drop off like he has the past few seasons where he seemed noticeably slower etc. after the halfway point.

If the number is $13m today, how much higher can it go? Same thing with Willie. If you waited him out, he'd have less leverage or the number still would have been $11.5m. They caved and now we are paying an 85-90 point winger like a top line centre. As for signing Marner now. If they do and he wilts like a tulip in April, Pelley will have egg all over his face and everybody telling him, "we told you to wait".

 

[Fogelhund]

I think we've got to wait until we see what happens this playoffs. If we fail again, how can they just keep running it back? Unless of course the players themselves, or their reps come to us with an offer we can't refuse... for example, Marner says extend me at my current, and Tavares says $3 mil. To commit now, we need the flexibility to make changes if necessary. If it's one and done... how can we justify not making changes?

So my vote would be No, unless they come to us with "discounts"... but I didn't vote, because that answer isn't an option.

 

[ToneDog]

I think we've got to wait until we see what happens this playoffs. If we fail again, how can they just keep running it back? Unless of course the players themselves, or their reps come to us with an offer we can't refuse... for example, Marner says extend me at my current, and Tavares says $3 mil. To commit now, we need the flexibility to make changes if necessary. If it's one and done... how can we justify not making changes?

I'd sign Tavares yesterday for $3m but today he'll be asking for $6+m. If he is as good this April as he was vs Boston last year, he'll be much cheaper or you can let him walk and go in a different direction. Keep your options open.

If Marner took the Willie deal plus a couple of hundred K, I'd sign him but his head is in the clouds asking for the rumored $13-$14m so unless he gives us a too good to pass up deal, wait.

 

[Fogelhund]

I'd sign Tavares yesterday for $3m but today he'll be asking for $6+m. If he is as good this April as he was vs Boston last year, he'll be much cheaper or you can let him walk and go in a different direction. Keep your options open.

If Marner took the Willie deal plus a couple of hundred K, I'd sign him but his head is in the clouds asking for the rumored $13-$14m so unless he gives us a too good to pass up deal, wait.

If they win us a cup... fair enough. Otherwise, nah. I really like these guys too, Tavares is having a great year, Marner has been the team MVP much of the time... but if we don't meet targets, changes have to happen.

 

[Gallagbi]

Depends on dollars. No use signing at a premium now like we did with Willy

 

[ToneDog]

20-2 No. Hope the dummies at the MLSEL are taking notes.

 

[ITM]

As an exercise, provided pending free agents haven't chosen to remain with their current teams, what alternatives to Marner would be available on July 1st?

Keeping in mind, the cap is going up.

 

[LeafGrief]

JT would be fine to sign now. My real question for him was how he would respond to losing the C. By just about any measure, he's taken it in stride and is having a fantastic season for us. By giving up the C and taking a (presumable) paycut, he's showing that he wants to be here and doesn't need to be the centre of attention. A JT who shifts out of the "big4" role and into a role-player is a win for us, and we can sign that deal whenever Pizza Brad feels is best.

Marner, absolutely not, no way, no-how. I don't care if he puts up 100 points in the next 50 games and says he wants 8m, we should not sign him until the playoffs are over. I know that in December we want to forget how badly the previous playoffs have gone, but if we recommit to Marner that means that we're locking in to this same group for another half decade. Even if you're someone who believes that Marner can do no wrong and it's someone else that we should trade, we should figure out THAT trade before we sign Mitch. Let's be honest here, he's not going to sign anywhere else, and he's probably going to be gunning for pretty big money. There's no rush and he's welcome to earn it with a legendary playoff performance.

 

[GoonieFace]

Tavares will probably wait for the CRA decision before he signs anything.

I would wait till after the playoffs to sign Marner, but we all know this isn’t going to happen. If the cap goes up like they say, Tre will be a kid in a candy store

 

[Gabriel426]

13mil for MM and 6mil for JT.

That’s really rich for two guys who can’t deliver in playoffs.

Let’s bring them back together and be first round knockouts.

Need to wait till after the playoffs and see if the team can even compete and go far. If not, what’s the point of bringing them back.

 

[Jojalu]

If they win us a cup... fair enough. Otherwise, nah. I really like these guys too, Tavares is having a great year, Marner has been the team MVP much of the time... but if we don't meet targets, changes have to happen.

Is a Cup finals appearance enough to sway? Or an ECF appearance?