Noted pest Brad Marchand poked the Maple Leafs after Mitch Marner crossed the 80-point mark on Monday night.
In a reply to some tweets from the NHL PR account that were giving some historical context to Marner’s big season, the Bruins winger tweeted “I can’t wait to see this kid’s new deal… 12m AAV?? It better be #Marnerwatch.”
I cant wait to see this kids new deal… 12m AAV?? It better be#Marnerwatch
— Brad Marchand (@Bmarch63) March 5, 2019
Either Marchand is a big fan of Marner, or he’s rooting for a division rival to get into salary cap trouble. It’s always hard to tell with him.
Marner, who now has 24 goals and 81 points this season after a three point effort against the Flames, is on pace to lead the Maple Leafs in scoring for the second year in a row. But with John Tavares signed for $11 million a season and Auston Matthews’ new deal worth $11.634 million per season, it’s widely expected that the Maple Leafs will try to sign Marner — a pending restricted free agent — for less than their centres.
“Nobody else is taking a discount. And now you’re asking (Marner) to take one again? It’s nonsense,” Marner’s agent Darren Ferris said in February.
This story is far from over but with Marchand’s glowing endorsement, Marner has at least one pest in his corner.
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