"It's not been a headline story which is unbelievable. What I would tell you is that there is no question part of the dialogue that is a stumbling block is that much like
Nathan MacKinnon's cap number much like
Mikko Rantanen, they are pointing to Auston Matthews and I understand from a team perspective.
From an agent perspective, the salary cap is going up aggressively and depending on what happens it could be more. It's not the AAV that matters it's the percentage of the cap; and if the cap is going up it's a real stumbling block.
Is there a way to massage an AAV with a deferment on a Marner extension? Potentially, but that doesn't appeal to 90% of agents; and since the
Frank Vatrano extension they are against the idea.
It comes down to this. I don't think the Leafs feel they can or will pay more than $13M, $12.5M? Is that enough for an 8-year deal? If that's where it is, that's the I think that's the clear line of demarcation, $13 million a year."