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6 hours ago
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If Toronto Maple Leafs fans were holding out the slimmest of hope that Mitch Marner might have a change of heart and just re-sign with the Leafs, that hope has been officially crushed.
On Sunday, the Maple Leafs agreed to a six-year, $46.5 million contract extension with forward Matthew Knies, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
According to Pro Hockey Rumors, Toronto now has $13.5 million in cap space remaining. The Maple Leafs still have multiple restricted free agents to try and bring back, most notably Nicholas Robertson and Pontus Holmberg.
With Marner looking at a contract that could fall anywhere between $12-14 million per year just by himself, Toronto simply doesn't have anymore room.
The Leafs likely knew for a while now that Marner was a goner, or they would've handled various contract negotiations this offseason differently.
But this Knies deal confirms it.
MORE: The reason Mitch Marner doesn't want to return to the Maple Leafs
It's a good move to keep Knies around. The big forward is still just 22 years old. A 2021 second-round pick, Knies just had 29 goals and 29 assists this past season while usually skating on the top line with Marner and Auston Matthews.
Matthews and Knies will need a new partner now, but at least Toronto still has them.
In the playoffs, Knies had five goals and two assists in 13 games. He and the Maple Leafs will be hoping to get back to that stage and improve on their performance when the new season gets here.
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