Blackhawks Need to Make Maple Leafs Their Primary Target
Matthew Knies & Mitch Marner (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)The Chicago Blackhawks need to make more big moves in the offseason and swing for the fences. This is an Original Six team with Connor Bedard and a lot of other talented young players and top picks. The turnaround hasn't happened yet, and adding a big piece to the mix will really help in advancing that goal of winning.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team the Blackhawks have to target for a couple of reasons. Reason one is Mitch Marner. Reason two is Matthew Knies. These are two impact players that need contracts and Chicago has more than enough cap space to bring one of them in. It isn't going to be both.
Marner is a UFA and even though he's having a great season and finishing out the year as a Maple Leaf, the risk of losing him becomes higher with every passing day, especially after the team reportedly approached him about a trade to Carolina. This indicates Toronto has thought about life without Marner moving forward as a possibility.
As for Knies, he is a RFA, but without a contract for next season, is at risk of being offer sheeted. There is a lot of money on the books in Toronto and it will be extremely difficult for the Maple Leafs to pay Marner what he likely wants and give Knies a contract he is worthy of now and down the line. If it reaches the point where teams can offer sheet Knies, it will most definitely happen and force Toronto's hand. Expect the Blackhawks to be one of those teams and potentially offer the most.
Marner will likely get around $13.5-$14 million AAV on his next contract, becoming the highest paid winger in the NHL. He has proven he's worth that money in the regular season at least. Recently on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Jason Bukula said that "It could go to $9 million...Sign Knies first and see what's left over...because he's going to get offer sheeted."
Marner is more proven and can consistently put up over a point-per-game, but he has been questionable at times in the playoffs or big games. The 4 Nations Face-Off definitely helped his case for more money, not hurt it. Knies is five years younger, bigger and more physical, and can score goals. They are very different players and will require different sums of money to get.
The problem with sending an offer sheet and having it accepted and not matched is the Blackhawks would be sending some good draft picks back to Toronto while Chicago is still at the bottom of the league. If this move pulls them from the depths of the NHL immediately, then that matters much less.
There aren't a ton of options out there for the Blackhawks to make a splash in an offseason they must do so, but Toronto is a team that Chicago has to have their sights set on.
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Good article Rob. Good points. The Hawks might need one or two big free agents to contend for a cup...I'm just not sure now is the right time....we're going to be horrible again next year. A player like Marner is acquired to get a team to the cup, but Hawks first have to fight for a playoff spot. I don't think Marner would want to come now....there's still too much building to do. A guy like Marner might want to come roughly 2 years from now.