Marner Watch

Statue4Deano said:
Causation/Correlation…

Nobody thinks paying a player outside his prime an elite paycheck is a good idea. The Kings wasted the latter part of Kopi and Drew’s prime. That’s on Dean, Blake and Luc not on the players.

Marner is 28 years old and should remain in his prime for 4+ seasons. You can’t ask for a bigger prime window for a free agent. If you’re going to sign the top free agents this is all part of the equation. It doesn’t mean you can’t win with expensive players. It means you can’t miss on those players and you can’t miss on the role players.
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“It means you can’t miss on those players…”
Is exactly right, and why I have some reservations about Marner.
But I’m also reminded that there are very few perfect players. And nearly every player has naysayers.
It’s above me to know if Marner is the right move. That’s why teams have GM’s instead of fans making decisions.

What I do believe is the Kings need another top six forward, a fourth line, and at least one big, tough defenseman.
Marner fills one hole. There needs to be enough cap space left to fill the others.
 
Birdman said:
The entire world talks about his unwillingness to do the dirty work and handle contact. That is what wins come playoff time.
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You say that and yet there are literally at least two videos of the dude throwing his body in front of pucks to ice or extend games. Maybe the dude was less incentivized to sacrifice his body after going through the hell that the organization and even fans put him and his family through or did you forget how he was betrayed by his own head coach and his family was threatened by the fans? Maybe...just maybe...the Maple Leafs organization shared in the blame on this one, especially since they haven't won a Cup since the mid 60's.

Further still, you'd rather have a team full of players lacking in integrity in crossing the line than give a young elite scorer who plays a two-way game a chance at redemption in a change of scenery that was previously afforded to Jeff Carter, who turned his reputation around while wearing Kings colors. Let's go ahead and put some of the WNBA Connecticut Sun in skates to fulfill your thuggery quota. Pardon me if I don't subscribe to your philosophy for building a team.



 
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Ranma said:
You say that and yet there are literally at least two videos of the dude throwing his body in front of pucks to ice or extend games. Maybe the dude was less incentivized to sacrifice his body after going through the hell that the organization and even fans put him and his family through or did you forget how he was betrayed by his own head coach and his family was threatened by the fans? Maybe...just maybe...the Maple Leafs organization shared in the blame on this one, especially since they haven't won a Cup since the mid 60's.

Further still, you'd rather have a team full of players lacking in integrity in crossing the line than give a young elite scorer who plays a two-way game a chance at redemption in a change of scenery that was previously afforded to Jeff Carter, who turned his reputation around while wearing Kings colors. Let's go ahead and put some of the WNBA Connecticut Sun in skates to fulfill your thuggery quota. Pardon me if I don't subscribe to your philosophy for building a team.



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Agreed. Marner is an elite two-way player which means he's not all flash and show, and is willing to sacrifice his body. There is such a negative narrative being spread about him, and most of it comes from the Toronto media whose sole purpose is to generate clicks and sell divisiveness. They are, in a lot of ways, like the British media in the English Premier League- they create their own heros and villains and sell the story.

I originally wasn't a Marner fan as I thought he was a high skilled paper doll player early on in his career. The last several seasons, though, watching him closely as really changed my mind. This guy wants to win and is willing do what whatever he can to help his team do so. That said, he still has limits and is never going to be a power checking bruiser (no should his team want him to be). This guy would be a huge boon to the LA Kings if we are fortunate enough to sign him.
 
I’m extremely bullish on Marner but if he really is looking for a 2 year deal (according to Friedman) I’m 100% out on him. In that scenario his cap hit is too big of a burden with Kopi and Doughty still around.

Now if we can get him for 4 I’m back in. Especially if that rumored 13M number is real. 4 years gives the Kings an out if he doesn’t get the team over the top and even if he decides to move on the Kings regain cap flexibility to find a younger replacement. 4 years feels like the ideal term for both sides imo.
 
Statue4Deano said:
I’m extremely bullish on Marner but if he really is looking for a 2 year deal (according to Friedman) I’m 100% out on him. In that scenario his cap hit is too big of a burden with Kopi and Doughty still around.

Now if we can get him for 4 I’m back in. Especially if that rumored 13M number is real. 4 years gives the Kings an out if he doesn’t get the team over the top and even if he decides to move on the Kings regain cap flexibility to find a younger replacement. 4 years feels like the ideal term for both sides imo.
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Ideally I would like 6 years @ $13m AAV as it would likely become a deal on the backend of the contract. That said, I agree that 2 years doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless the Kings are focused on doing everything they can to win next season Kopi retires. Still, that only gives us 1 year post Kopi which almost puts us back to the starting line.

If we do sign him for 2 years I hope it's on a 10 or 8 team no trade list rather than a full NMC or NTC.
 
Statue4Deano said:
I’m extremely bullish on Marner but if he really is looking for a 2 year deal (according to Friedman) I’m 100% out on him. In that scenario his cap hit is too big of a burden with Kopi and Doughty still around.

Now if we can get him for 4 I’m back in. Especially if that rumored 13M number is real. 4 years gives the Kings an out if he doesn’t get the team over the top and even if he decides to move on the Kings regain cap flexibility to find a younger replacement. 4 years feels like the ideal term for both sides imo.
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Even if we get him for 2 years at 13 mill per, and manage to trade Trevor Moore out, thus basically upgrading that wing position dramatically, while offsetting some of the Marner cost by moving Trevor’s 4.2 mill cap hit?
 
DarkLeftHand said:
Even if we get him for 2 years at 13 mill per, and manage to trade Trevor Moore out, thus basically upgrading that wing position dramatically, while offsetting some of the Marner cost by moving Trevor’s 4.2 mill cap hit?
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I understand that Moore is a very good trade chip. I don’t care that he’s a local kid. I care that for his money he’s a good player. I don’t expect 30 goals from him. But 20-goals at his contract is a real ROI and I wouldn’t be too quick to send him out.

I think all the Marner talk is certainly relevant. And we got nothing to do but chat for awhile.
But the important questions are also what will happen with Gavrikov, Spence, and patching together a fourth line. (On that note, could a fourth line be Helenius, Lee & Malott?).

Getting Marner is a part of it. But there are other ways this team needs to put a better roster together. And that’s gonna take some cap space.
 
www.nytimes.com

NHL rumblings: Who was in on Toews, plus latest on Marner, McDavid, Tavares, Robertson and more

Trade and free-agency news from around the league: Marner's considering two-year deals, McDavid's in no rush and Tavares-Leafs isn't close.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

IMG_5560.jpeg

Some more smoke… Lebrun believes Marner is very interested in LA.
 
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DarkLeftHand said:
Even if we get him for 2 years at 13 mill per, and manage to trade Trevor Moore out, thus basically upgrading that wing position dramatically, while offsetting some of the Marner cost by moving Trevor’s 4.2 mill cap hit?
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Marner for 2 @ 13M could work. I just hate to get rid of Moore (and eventually Danault) for only a 2 year commitment from Marner. Maybe Holland can convince Kopi to stick around for 1 last cup run on a Toews-like contract after next season.
 
Statue4Deano said:
Marner for 2 @ 13M could work. I just hate to get rid of Moore (and eventually Danault) for only a 2 year commitment from Marner. Maybe Holland can convince Kopi to stick around for 1 last cup run on a Toews-like contract after next season.
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I think if a guy like Marner comes on board, and they can get another gamer mercenary like the Rat King, guys like Kopi and Drew would continue playing on much lower one year deals to chase cups for as long as they’re still serviceable.
 
DoubleMinor said:
I understand that Moore is a very good trade chip. I don’t care that he’s a local kid. I care that for his money he’s a good player. I don’t expect 30 goals from him. But 20-goals at his contract is a real ROI and I wouldn’t be too quick to send him out.

I think all the Marner talk is certainly relevant. And we got nothing to do but chat for awhile.
But the important questions are also what will happen with Gavrikov, Spence, and patching together a fourth line. (On that note, could a fourth line be Helenius, Lee & Malott?).

Getting Marner is a part of it. But there are other ways this team needs to put a better roster together. And that’s gonna take some cap space.
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I certainly think mallott, helenius, and lee could make a formidable 4th line, IF the coach lets them play to their identity. However, that’s where the problem lies.. the Kings were so goddamn terrified of Edmontons power play, that they completely shied away from the rough stuff, and it allowed the Oilers to run amok, bully, and cheap shot. In my opinion, that’s the main difference between what the Panthers brought against Edmonton, and where the Kings failed. The Panthers were absolutely not afraid of the Oilers power play.
 
DarkLeftHand said:
I think if a guy like Marner comes on board, and they can get another gamer mercenary like the Rat King, guys like Kopi and Drew would continue playing on much lower one year deals to chase cups for as long as they’re still serviceable.
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Barring any injuries, of course. But I agree. I don't think either of them are in a hurry to hang them up if they're healthy.
 
Mike Futa considers Mitch Marner to be a superstar player who hasn't lived up to his contract in the postseason for Toronto and is in need of a change of scenery. While Futa is stating the obvious, it's notable that he considers Marner to be a superstar player capable of being a true difference-maker.

For as much as I've been advocating for the Kings' pursuit of Marner, I share in Statue4Deano and others' concerns about the type of contract he should be getting, especially with respect to building out the rest of the team roster. It's not like I want to hand him a blank check or something. The only person that even warrants consideration of a max contract offer is Connor McDavid and, even then, I'd have to seriously consider the ramifications and feasibility of such an offer.

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Essentially Sports | May 21, 2025
 
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I'm in on a deal of 4 years or more with Marner. A 2 year deal at this point seems wasteful. I'd like him here when Byfield, Greentree, Clarke, Turcotte, etc are more mature. If they do sign him tho, it better have a NMC in it like a 10 team trade/no-trade kind of thing.
 
Watching with baited breath these reports that Marner wants a 2-3 year deal at 13 instead of 8 years. Id do that in a heartbeat.
 
Statue4Deano said:
I’m extremely bullish on Marner but if he really is looking for a 2 year deal (according to Friedman) I’m 100% out on him. In that scenario his cap hit is too big of a burden with Kopi and Doughty still around.

Now if we can get him for 4 I’m back in. Especially if that rumored 13M number is real. 4 years gives the Kings an out if he doesn’t get the team over the top and even if he decides to move on the Kings regain cap flexibility to find a younger replacement. 4 years feels like the ideal term for both sides imo.
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Yeah, the 2 year deal is kinda weird and doesn't really show a commitment to the team.
 
Statue4Deano said:
www.sportsnet.ca

32 Thoughts: The Podcast

Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.
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All Marner offers are dependent on Vegas.
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I will hate Vegas even more if they find a way to get him. How a team can consistently add star players is a model all GMs should strive for.
 
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