Leafs GM not concerned with offer sheets

Bring them on.

If other NHL teams are thinking of tendering offer sheets to Auston Matthews or Mitch Marner when both become restricted free agents next summer, go ahead. This from Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas: It’ll be a waste of time.

“Our salary cap situation is set up that we can defend any of those threats without worry,” Dubas said Monday.

“I know (offer sheets) have become a huge topic of late, but I spend zero per cent of my time having any worry about that. If a team wants to go down that path with us, that’s the way it goes, but our goal will be to continue to work with these players.” Matthews and Marner are part of a long list of players who could become restricted free agents on July 1. The group includes Patrik Laine of the Winnipeg Jets, Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche and Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins.

While Dubas is talking with both Matthews and Marner, it’s not believed negotiations have become anything close to serious. Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, has said his preference is to get a contract done once the season is over, thereby taking away any sort of in-season distraction.

But Dubas wants no part of the same kind of negotiations that happened with William Nylander. Both sides are happy now, but Dubas has no interest in going down to the final few minutes with Matthews and Marner. “We have to continue to work away with them and it will be our intention well before July 1 that we have an agreement, and that both players are here long-term,” said Dubas.

As for defenceman Jake Gardiner, who is headed for unrestricted free agency next summer, Dubas has been in contact with agent Pat Brisson.

“We would like him to be here, it’s not as simple as it sounds,” Dubas sad. “You only have a certain amount you can divvy up, and it’s trying to make that all work and keep our team on the right path moving forward.” Dubas hinted he might upgrade the defence corps before the NHL trade deadline on Feb. 25. “We would like to keep continuing to move the puck better from our own zone,” Dubas said.