NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On The Toronto Maple Leafs And Boston Bruins' Pending UFAs
Will a big salary cap increase affect the Maple Leafs' negotiations with Mitch Marner and John Tavares? And will the Bruins buy or retool?
Last week's news of significant projected increases in the NHL salary cap over the next three seasons has pundits and fans wondering how it will affect their favorite teams' attempts to their top players to contract extensions.
The Athletic's James Mirtle examined its effect on the Toronto Maple Leafs' efforts to re-sign UFA-eligible forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares before July 1. He acknowledged the rise to $95.5 million next season creates more space to sign those two and address other roster issues. However, he suggested it could create a scenario whereby those players and their agents negotiate their cap percentage based on the projections beyond 2025-26.
Mirtle believes it will be difficult to forecast the cost of signing Marner because of his place among the NHL's top forwards. He could get over $13 million annually on the open market, but how much more remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star speculated Marner could make more than Auston Matthews' team-leading cap hit of $13.25 million. He anticipates Tavares' cap hit will drop from its current $11 million but might not fall that much, suggesting it could land at $8 million.
PuckPedia indicates the Leafs have $30.5 million of projected cap space for next season with 16 active roster players under contract. That's enough to sign Marner and Tavares to a combined $21 million if Marner accepts $13 million and Tavares $8 million. However, it won't leave much to re-sign RFA Matthew Knies and make a significant addition or two via free agency in July.
Turning to the Boston Bruins, Bruins president Cam Neely last month said his club could be a buyer, or it could retool a little bit depending on its position in the standings by the trade deadline.
Their struggle to remain in the Eastern Conference playoff race sparked speculation over winger Brad Marchand's future. The 36-year-old Bruins captain is slated to become a UFA on July 1 unless he agrees to a contract extension. He has a cap hit of $6.125 million and an eight-team no-trade list.
On Jan. 24, The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa cited an NHL executive suggesting the Bruins could move Marchand by the March 7 trade deadline if they think it'll help the team.
Nick Goss of NBC Sports Boston believes Marchand will draw plenty of interest if he becomes available in the trade market. However, the Bruins captain claimed he's not paying attention to the media chatter, saying he's focused on trying to win games.
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