Toronto Maple Leafs: Marchand adds to debate around Marner’s contract
By Austin Owens
Boston Bruins forward Marchand gave his thoughts on Marner’s contract negotiations with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday
Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand is known as a pest above all else. While he spends most of his time getting under the skins of his respective opponents on the ice, he gave his two cents on the contract situation of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner on Tuesday.
After Marner became the first Leaf since Phil Kessel to reach 80 points on Monday, Marchand responded to a tweet, weighing in on what he thinks his Atlantic Division foe should make per season.
Marner’s impending contract negotiations have been a major talking point all year, and his agent, Darren Ferris, caused a stir with comments made to the Toronto Star’s Dave Feschuk in February. Ferric believes the team is trying to lowball his client and that a contract extension hasn’t happened yet as a result.
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The quotes also seemed to be poorly timed from Ferris, as the came on the heels of Auston Matthews signing a five-year, $58.17-million extension. A day after the story came out, the agent was on Toronto radio, backtracking his comments.
"“Let me tell you, that things are positive,” Ferris told Jeff Blair on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. “The dialogue’s positive, the discussions are going in the right direction since that day. We’re not far off from when we left off a while ago. We last ended on a positive note.“Kyle (Dubas) agreed with me to wait until the end of the season, which was Mitch’s desire to wait … if it couldn’t get done he didn’t want the distraction during the season. He just wanted to play, help his team get in the playoffs, and hopefully win a Stanley Cup."
Ferris also added that the initial lowballing comments were in reference to talks during the summer. However, he said that conversations between him and Dubas have gone well.
"“I can tell you that everything’s been positive. The dialogue’s been positive, the discussions have been going in the right direction and Mitch will be a Leaf for a long time and I’m sure that everything will work out.”"
Marchand will get an extended look at Marner in April, as the Maple Leafs and Bruins are on a collision course to meet in the first round for a second straight year.
Regardless of where the summer negotiations go between the two sides, the Bruins star is doing his best to ensure that Marner will cost the Leafs as much money as possible.
Next. Leafs sign Garret Sparks to one-year contract extension. dark
What do you think about Marchand’s comments? Do you think Marner will get that much in his next contract or is he just trolling fans? Let us know in the comments below.