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The Toronto Maple Leafs enter this season with three key players – forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares and defenseman Jake McCabe – eligible to become UFAs in July.
Marner, 27, is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $10.903 million. He also carries a full no-movement clause.
Sportsnet’s Luke Fox has Marner on his list of the 25 people who will define this NHL season. He considers it unlikely that the two-way winger will accept anything less than teammate William Nylander’s $11.5-million annual cap hit.
Fox believes Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving faces three options. The least likely is trying to trade Marner despite his NMC. Treliving could attempt to sign him this season or wait and see if Marner and his teammates can finally carry the Leafs on a deep playoff run and take it from there.
Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli wonders what the end game will be for this situation. He can’t see the Leafs let him walk as a free agent in July but also doesn’t foresee them trying to move him at the trade deadline if they’re a 100-point team this season.
Tavares, 34, will be completing a seven-year deal with an average annual value of $11 million. Like Marner, the former Maple Leafs captain has full no-movement protection.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports there have been some contract discussions between Tavares and the Leafs. He doesn’t think a deal is imminent, but the two sides could continue those talks at some point this season.
Tavares’ best seasons are behind him at this stage of his career. Nevertheless, the Toronto native loves being a Leaf and could accept a considerable pay cut on a short-term deal to stay put.
McCabe, 30, is in the last year of his four-year contract with a $4-million cap hit. He lacks a no-movement clause but possesses a modified no-trade clause.
The Hockey News’ Evan Doerfler cites NHL insider Nick Kypreos reporting an extension could be coming soon for McCabe. He’s uncertain what the terms and cap hit could be but believes the blueliner would have no problem making $30 million over the next six years starting next season. That breaks down to $5 million annually.
Earlier this week, we noted some speculation suggesting Timothy Liljegren could become a trade candidate. The Hockey News’ Nick Barden cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting the Leafs are trying to find a landing spot for the 25-year-old defenseman.
Liljegren has tumbled down the Leafs depth chart and was a healthy scratch for their season-opening loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
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