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NHL Rumors: Blue Jackets want to sign Mitch Marner to offer sheet

By Dave Stevenson

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 15: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to action against the Boston Bruins in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 3-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 15: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to action against the Boston Bruins in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 3-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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According to the latest NHL rumors, the Columbus Blue Jackets have had discussions with Mitch Marner regarding an offer sheet.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in for an interesting summer after going all-in at the trade deadline. Though they failed to win the Stanley Cup as they hoped, that’s not stopping them from being bold. According to the latest NHL rumors, the Jackets have been talking to Toronto Maple Leafs restricted free agent Mitch Marner about an offer sheet.

These rumors have been floating around, but Aaron Portzline from The Athletic confirmed them. However, he noted he doesn’t believe Marner will be leaving the Maple Leafs. Also, Portzline seems convinced the Leafs will match just about any offer sheet for him.

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According to Portzline, Toronto could be willing to go as far as trading William Nylander to ensure they could keep Marner. Nylander signed a six-year deal worth just under $7 million per season back in December.

However, there is one important factor. The Jackets would be unable to sign Marner to an offer sheet short of the four first-round pick tier of compensation, which requires an AAV of at least $10.6 million over five years. They do not have their own second-round pick or third-round pick in the 2020 draft.

Columbus gave up their 2020 third-round pick for defenseman Ian Cole at the 2018 trade deadline. Their pick is currently owned by the Maple Leafs, who got it in the Cody Ceci trade. Columbus traded their 2020 second-round pick (and their 2021 second-round pick plus Anthony Duclair) for Ryan Dzingel at the 2019 trade deadline.

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General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen is clearly a bold man. He bet on his team at the trade deadline. And even though Kekalainen lost that gamble, you can’t help but admire his courage. But would the Jackets be willing to surrender four first-round picks for one player, plus likely make him the highest paid wing in the NHL?

Here’s where things get interesting – Elliotte Friedman confirmed on his latest 31 Thoughts podcast that he has heard the Jackets are interested in Marner. He says they went as far as to offer him a seven-year deal, though it’s not known exactly how much they were offering him. Remember, for compensation, the AAV is calculated by dividing the total value of the deal by five years if the deal is longer than five years.

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Marner reportedly wants a deal that is five years or shorter. He’s probably taking note of what his teammate Auston Matthews and offer sheet target Sebastian Aho just did. The Jackets might have pushed in most of their chips and lost at the trade deadline. But it appears that’s not stopping Kekalainen from sitting at the poker table.

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