Insider Issues Warning to Maple Leafs GM About Mitch Marner's Contract

Simmons emphasized that Marner, while a great player, is not in the same category as all-time talents like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, or even his teammate Auston Matthews.

“You can’t pay him more than Matthews, McDavid, Draisaitl, or MacKinnon,” Simmons wrote. “There’s a difference between a great player and an all-time great.”

Marner, who tallied 85 points in 69 games last season, remains a cornerstone of the Maple Leafs. However, his postseason performances have been under scrutiny, with just three points in seven playoff games last year.

By comparison, players like Draisaitl have demonstrated their worth in high-pressure scenarios, including a deep playoff run with the Oilers last season forcing Game 7 in Edmonton's Stanley Cup Final loss.

The Leafs might also face the challenge of adhering to their presumed “internal” cap structure, with Matthews already earning $13.5 million annually as the team captain and best player in Toronto.

“If I’m (Toronto Maple Leafs GM) Brad Treliving, I make it clear to Marner’s people,” Simmons wrote before warning the Leafs GM and advising him what to tell Marner. "You’ll be paid well to stay here, but there has to be a difference in both viewpoint and paycheck."

Marner himself has expressed his desire to remain with the Leafs, citing his deep ties to Toronto at the end of last season.

“I’ve expressed my love for this place, this city,” Marner said in May. “It means the world to me.”

Whether the Leafs can navigate these negotiations without fracturing their salary structure or losing Marner to free agency will define their offseason plans and the long-term future of the franchise.