Eklund: Breakfast Buzzcast with Kevin Allen at 9am

Yuuuge.

Darren Ferris telling the media that his player coming off an entry deal might go to Europe. That train is never late.

I didn't see anything about playing for a Swiss team ... just practicing.

On the other hand, this is Ferris 101 and you know he hand-puppetted Dreger on this one to make the thinly-veiled threat to the Leafs.

You would think the fact that people predicted this tactic back in June, would cause him to change tactics. Does he think Dubas somehow didn't expect this? Hell, the prediction even had the country right.

Yuuuge.
- LeafGuy89

immense

Yuuuge.
- LeafGuy89

Marner isn't a 10M player on more than twenty odd teams. He needs players around him to compliment his game. He has that in Toronto. If he gets dealt, I see his production declining dramatically. What the hay happened to the home town discount?

I didn't see anything about playing for a Swiss team ... just practicing.

On the other hand, this is Ferris 101 and you know he hand-puppetted Dreger on this one to make the thinly-veiled threat to the Leafs.

You would think the fact that people predicted this tactic back in June, would cause him to change tactics. Does he think Dubas somehow didn't expect this? Hell, the prediction even had the country right.
- Aetherial

Literally the entire thing was predicted.

That Ferris would do it, that it'd be Switzerland, that it'd happen just as August is getting close to it's end, and that the Muppet Dreger would be the one reporting it. Literally. Everything.

Could you, or someone, please spell out where the snags are in some of the RFA's?
Example, you keep alluding to Hextall saying that the Provorov contract would be a war, why? His agent? The money? Simply throwing that out with knowing nods from the panel is neither enlightening nor is it entertaining. It is in fact frustrating as all heck.

Also, When do you declare the Mariner moratorium? There was a period last year when no discussion of Nylander was allowed...well?

- sensarmy_11

Marner isn't a 10M player on more than twenty odd teams. He needs players around him to compliment his game. He has that in Toronto. If he gets dealt, I see his production declining dramatically. What the hay happened to the home town discount?
- Hardbalz

I couldn't disagree more.
And I don't really like the leafs at all.
But he's the guy that makes everyone around him better.
Reminds me of Hossa. And actually gives a poop in the playoffs.

I couldn't disagree more.
And I don't really like the leafs at all.
But he's the guy that makes everyone around him better.
Reminds me of Hossa. And actually gives a poop in the playoffs.
- Octavarium

Keep in mind this is Leafs nation. We're passionate about the team to a fault and almost take things personally when it doesn't roll out the way we want it to. Marner is a great player and I've watched him from day 1 setting his feet on the ice in London. Is he more than a 10.5 mil a year player? No, not right now anyways. Tavares sure helped him with his numbers this year, but I believe that was also reciprocal. He plays with heart and talent and is a key player to the future success in Toronto, so sometimes us Leaf fans need to take a step back and let things happen. Agents will always be agents and players wanna get paid. If social media and regular media weren't so invasive, we wouldn't know about any of this going on during the offseason and Marner would still be the hero he was from last season. Deep breaths Toronto fans, he's gonna sign and he'll be there on day 1. Trust the Shanaplan.

Keep in mind this is Leafs nation. We're passionate about the team to a fault and almost take things personally when it doesn't roll out the way we want it to. Marner is a great player and I've watched him from day 1 setting his feet on the ice in London. Is he more than a 10.5 mil a year player? No, not right now anyways. Tavares sure helped him with his numbers this year, but I believe that was also reciprocal. He plays with heart and talent and is a key player to the future success in Toronto, so sometimes us Leaf fans need to take a step back and let things happen. Agents will always be agents and players wanna get paid. If social media and regular media weren't so invasive, we wouldn't know about any of this going on during the offseason and Marner would still be the hero he was from last season. Deep breaths Toronto fans, he's gonna sign and he'll be there on day 1. Trust the Shanaplan.
- JSC

I don't see how anyone could possibly make an argument that Marner isn't worth $10.5M+. He had 94pts last year. He's a three-situation player. His goal/assist/point totals have increased in each of his first three years. I can't even begin to understand the idea that he's not worth that money.

I don't see how anyone could possibly make an argument that Marner isn't worth $10.5M+. He had 94pts last year. He's a three-situation player. His goal/assist/point totals have increased in each of his first three years. I can't even begin to understand the idea that he's not worth that money.
- eichiefs9

agreed. no worse than panarin.

I don't see how anyone could possibly make an argument that Marner isn't worth $10.5M+. He had 94pts last year. He's a three-situation player. His goal/assist/point totals have increased in each of his first three years. I can't even begin to understand the idea that he's not worth that money.
- eichiefs9

Well that's pretty easy actually. List of RW that make more than $10M is:

(1) Patrick Kane

That's it. Kane was also a first overall pick that won two cups before signing that deal...and the Hawks haven't been out of the first round since.

Marner isn't a 10M player on more than twenty odd teams. He needs players around him to compliment his game. He has that in Toronto. If he gets dealt, I see his production declining dramatically. What the hay happened to the home town discount?
- Hardbalz

Interesting that fans of other teams believe this. I guess he's underrated still

agreed. no worse than panarin.
- mattstake

Panarin was an unrestricted free agent.

Eklund: Breakfast Buzzcast with Kevin Allen at 9am
- Eklund

Ferris also represented Athanasiou and Nylander I believe......he pulled this same crap twice, it's only a scare tactic, Dubas should hold his ground.

I don't think the issue is that Marner's not worth $10m a season...he is. I think the larger scope problem is he overpaid Matthews and Nylander (slightly) in comparisons to other guys. Dubas had to overpay Tavares to get him there and that set the precedent from there. Dubas painted himself into a corner with these contracts.
He had an opportunity to give himself more flexibility by walking away from Ceci after unloading Zaitsev (although I guess that was a stipulation to get rid of Zaitsev anyway). The Leafs needed Ceci like they need a hole in the head. No way I'd be paying him $4.5. I'd rather have shelled out $1.0-$1.5 on Adam McQuaid and actually get some size, defence and leadership on the back end.

After an incredible year playing with Tavares, everyone thinks they're all of a sudden bigger than the game, only to go elsewhere and nobody even remembering your name.
Matt Moulson - now with AHL Hershey Bears
Kyle Okposo * now with Buffalo and burning up the points with 29 last year
Thomas Vanek - currently unsigned
Frans Nielsen - slow down... 35 points
Mitch Marner - obviously an 11mil per year player

Panarin was an unrestricted free agent.
- froberts

I think this is starting to matter less and less..........especially after the leafs gave Matthews an INSANELY player friendly deal, as an RFA

Eklund: Breakfast Buzzcast with Kevin Allen at 9am
- Eklund

Panarin a LW is making $11.62 mil a yr. He had 28 goals and 59 assists for 87 points. His ppg average is just under 1 for his career. Numbers that are almost identical to Marner's. Marner is also younger than Panarin. As for Kane a RW, when he signed he was making 15.22 percent of the cap. Panarin is making 14.29 percent of the cap. I believe Marner should making a least Panarin money. So 14.29% of 81.5 mil= $11.65 Million/yr. That is the least Marner should be taking.

When Bryan Murray signed Karlsson to the deal people howled at the foolishness of it. It looked like a steal after the first year.

The same with Marner.

I heard Mitch Marnerov is looking at a 15 year, 200M KHL deal.

Ek will break the news at 7