{"id":45840,"date":"2019-09-13T19:07:43","date_gmt":"2019-09-13T23:07:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=45840"},"modified":"2019-09-13T21:13:20","modified_gmt":"2019-09-14T01:13:20","slug":"toronto-maple-leafs-re-sign-mitch-marner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2019\/09\/13\/toronto-maple-leafs-re-sign-mitch-marner\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Maple Leafs Re-sign Mitch Marner"},"content":{"rendered":"

The waiting is finally over for fans. After one of the most intense contract battles of recent memory, the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a>\u00a0re-signed forward Mitch Marner<\/strong><\/a>. He inked a six-year deal with the team. The newly-minted contract has a cap hit of $10.893 million over the six years.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/FriedgeHNIC\/status\/1172645834661347328?s=20<\/p>\n

Toronto Maple Leafs Re-sign Mitch Marner<\/h1>\n

In 82 games last season, Marner scored 26 goals and added 68 assists for 94 points. His possession numbers were 55.8 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 5.7. In seven Stanley Cup playoff games, Marner recorded two goals and two assists for four points.<\/p>\n

Over his career, Marner has scored 67 goals and added 157 assists for 224 points in 241 games.<\/p>\n

Marner was originally drafted by the Maple Leafs in the first round, fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.<\/p>\n

What This Means for the Future<\/h2>\n

Getting Marner under contract was the biggest task facing Kyle Dubas this off-season. Marner is coming off a career year where he set new career highs in goals, assists, and points. He is crucial to the Leafs success moving forward.<\/p>\n

Marner was arguably the best player on the Leafs roster last season. Marner and John Tavares<\/strong><\/a> formed one of the league’s most dynamic duos. Both players set career-highs in points and Tavares hit the 40 goal plateau for the first time in his career. Marner deserves a lot of credit for this milestone.<\/p>\n

Marner has become one of the league’s best playmakers. He finished third in the entire NHL in primary assists with 52, just four behind league leader Connor McDavid<\/strong><\/a>. He also finished fourth in the league for total assists with 68. Not only is he skilled offensively but he is a strong defender as well. Marner finished in the top 10 this season in takeaways with 78 and is also relied upon by the Leafs to kill penalties.<\/p>\n

Marner brings it every night for the Leafs. He’s not afraid to put his body on the line for the good of the team, as he proved in Game 3 against the Boston Bruins<\/a> where he laid out and blocked two shots in the dying seconds to help secure the win for the Leafs. Marner is a player you can build your team around. Along with Auston Matthews<\/strong><\/a>, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly<\/strong><\/a>, William Nylander<\/strong><\/a> and Frederik Andersen<\/a><\/strong>, general manager Kyle Dubas<\/strong> has his core set. Now he needs to focus on putting the finishing touches on the defence, to become a true Stanley Cup contender.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>