That’s a hard pass for me. Can’t be paying a guy 15% of the cap to disappear when the games mean something*
*Yes, I understand we’re paying 2 other players that kind of money to have the same results, but what’s done is done. -WHIPPER
Really? Because that’s factually inaccurate. Marner helped win 2 out of the 3 games against Florida, one with a GWG and the other with a primary assist in Game 6 for the GWG. Matthews had a GWG in Game 6. Knies had a GWG too. It was actually Tavares and Nylander who did next to nothing when the games mattered. And they were on the ice for A LOT of goals against. More than any other forward. Those are the real guys who disappeared.
So…your argument doesn’t hold water.
You’re also unlikely to find guys who actually want to come to Toronto who will be better than Marner for that 15% cap hit.
At least in the scenario where you sign Marner and trade Nylander, you get something in return for Nylander. It’s basic asset management.
Luckily, if they dump Tavares and Rielly, they can keep both, which would be the best course of action.