TORONTO (Mar. 8) — Yes, the salary cap is about to rise exponentially in the National Hockey League.

But, no, the Maple Leafs did not offer the Carolina Hurricanes their immediate prospect and draft pool to obtain forward Mikko Rantanen as a “luxury” item, similar to John Tavares in 2018. Not at eight years and $110 million, the maximum overture (according to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet) made by the Leafs for the Finnish star. Rantanen ultimately agreed to a sign–and–trade with Dallas for eight years and $96 million. He could have become a free agent and the Hurricanes desired that he return to the “safety” of the Western Conference. Mission accomplished.

Were the Maple Leafs and Mitch Marner on the same negotiating page, they wouldn’t have looked at Rantanen on Friday. Instead, Brendan Shanahan and Brad Treliving sauntered unobtrusively past the graveyard, whispering “we need this guy to replace Mitch.” No one in the Toronto media squealed. Perhaps even noticed. As expected, they were too busy partying over the acquisitions of Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo. Even if the Leafs nearly yielded, for a couple of accomplished depth pieces,* what they offered for Rantanen (Fraser Minten, Easton Cowan and two first–round draft picks).* Marner will assuredly haul in that eight years and $110 million. From somewhere in the NHL. With a cap hit approaching $14 million (Rantanen’s hit with Dallas is $12 million). Trading for Rantanen and re-upping with Marner would have bloated the cap burden, next season, to $52.75 million for the new Core–4 of the Blue and White: Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Marner and Rantanen. Leaving roughly $43 million for the remaining 19 players on the roster. Even the starry eyed Leafs aren’t that kooky (we think).
*Philadelphia coach John Tortorella offered high praise for Laughton, calling the new Leaf a person he’d befriend for life. Ol’ Torts doesn’t toss around compliments for fun. Character is vitally important at playoff time and the Leafs obtained some on Friday.
*Kypreos later suggested the Leafs turned down Rantanen because Carolina insisted that Matthew Knies be part of a trade package.

There was a suggestion late today by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that the Leafs grew the gonads to offer Marner straight–up for Rantanen. Even without such authority, given Marner’s ironclad, no–movement clause. Mitch, to absolutely no one’s surprise, told his current team to cram it. Pretty soon, we’re liable to hear that the Leafs offered to throw in Charlie Conacher for Rantanen. The plot seems to be thickening (and deepening) by the hour.

Pause and comprehend, once more, that Treliving reportedly agreed to part with his top two prospects and another pair of first–rounders. Not to secure the sorely needed kingpin on defense the club has lacked for a half–century. But, yet another “points” guy up front. Why would management go to such lengths if it believed Marner was staying? And, if Marner wants to remain a Leaf, why haven’t the two sides announced a contract extension? The cap money is clearly available. My view is that the Leafs established an internal salary cap when Matthews re–upped for four years at $13.25 million a crack. No chance Marner is getting $14 million from Shanahan and Treliving. And, though the cap contrast is rather insignificant, it’s evidently created enough of an impasse that Marner has told the Leafs he’ll test the open market in July. A strategy oft–preferred by his agent, Darren Ferris.

Again, money and term will be there for Marner wherever he lands. Why, then, continue with a team that refuses to go the extra mile? One that attempted to mortgage on Friday, for Rantanen, what remains of the flimsy farm?

With neither the Leafs nor Marner uttering a peep about the future, this is clearly guesswork. By me or anyone else. But, it seems to add up. I sense that Shanahan and Treliving overplayed their hand for Rantanen. Thinking he would reject the smaller overture from Dallas and agree to join only the Leafs; that Carolina would have no reasonable alternative but to accept the trade for Cowan, Minten and the two first–rounders. If the Hurricanes insisted on Knies rather than the two prospects and the Leafs backed away, shame on Shanahan and Treliving. Though Matthew has developed into a fine pro, he isn’t Rantanen. Never will be. If the Hurricanes were silly enough to request Knies and the prospects, they were using the Leafs as collateral. Which was wasting their time. Either way, all the posturing could only tick off Marner and Ferris, who are likely more determined than ever to see what’s available around the NHL in July. I’ve written in this corner, several times, that Marner has long–been the most–gifted and indispensible Maple Leaf; No. 34 readily included. I suspect Mitchell and his agent strongly concur.

If considering only performance in the Stanley Cup chase, the Leaf gunners aren’t worth sh**. Marner included. The core players have routinely withered in the intensified slog of April to June. Which was another reason to alter the club’s nucleus with Rantanen. We are not, therefore, certain the Leafs actually want to retain Marner.

Perhaps Brendan and Brad are perfectly comfortable with Mitch (and the aging Tavares) fleeing this summer, creating invaluable cap space. Add in the $7.5 million cap increase for next season, the Leafs could have nearly $30 million with which to re–shape the roster. Until he actually declares himself a free agent, Marner — according to those in the media who cannot stomach his possible departure — will undoubtedly stay with the Leafs. Terry Koshan practically begged for such an outcome in a recent Toronto Sun entreaty. And, Terry may be correct.

As the great country singer, Charlie Rich, crooned in 1973: “No one knows what goes on behind closed doors.”

Even if we think the doors have slammed shut on Marner returning.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM