Long-term deals way to go for the Leafs

If Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews (and their agents) believe the cap will go up for the 2020-21 season by a meaningful amount because of a new TV contact in the U.S., and the addition of Seattle, might they consider one-year contracts now at a reduced amount in order to keep Jake Gardiner? The Patrick Marleau contract would be off the books by then, too.

They would have some protection from a low-ball offer by the team as they would be arbitration eligible. The raised cap space would allow Toronto to sign them to more money long term than they probably can comfortably do now.

I realize that this does not provide the protection from long-term injury, but perhaps insurance can help.

Can this work? - Tony For whatever reason — mostly security and a conservative outlook — players and agents don’t think that way. And teams — preferring cost-certainty, even at prices that might seem inflated for the first year or two — don’t think that way either. I like the idea of a player betting on himself and going short-term. Expect longer term deals — five-to-eight years — for both Marner and Matthews. They’re young enough that they’ll be much better deals at the end of those deals, too.

I would like to understand how Zach Hyman gets two games as a non-repeat offender for his hit and Troy Brouwer gets bupkis for his hit on Kasperi Kapanen? Time after time a Leaf player gets the short end of the stick when it comes to handing out league discipline. Brouwer’s hit was later and knee on knee. And once again no Leaf player did anything.

If this team goes into the playoffs constituted the way it is now, they are going nowhere, especially if they come up against Boston, Washington or possibly Columbus.

The NHL’s department of player safety is not out to “get” one team. Hyman’s hit was predatory. Brouwer’s was not, it was more reactionary. I didn’t like it either. I suspect if Kapanen was hurt, Brouwer might have been called to the table. He was not.

I really enjoy your column in the Saturday Star but I must take exception to your answer recently regarding the question — who stays and who goes? Please never say the Leafs are unable to afford someone. The Leafs make enough money to field at least two teams. The problem is not one of affordability but rather that of the Bettman hard cap.

Also, I truly believe Kasperi Kapanen is the second-best right winger on the team based on his showing this season. He is a big-time talent and he seems to be one of those rare athletes that plays better the bigger the game. - Ken You’re right. Words matter. The Leafs can “afford” anything. They’re just not allowed to.

So some players are going to be squeezed out because they can’t all the get the raises they deserve and fit under the cap. So I guess the Leafs can’t afford to mess things up this year.