Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
While it was reported the Maple Leafs are interested in Artemi Panarin, a new report from Elliotte Friedman reveals that may not exactly be the case for the forward.
It won’t be easy, but with the Rangers looking to do the same thing, the Maple Leafs could swoop in and pick him up — as long as the price is right (and maybe an extension promise).
He would no doubt be a great addition to the lineup and could be the offensive powerhouse that Auston Matthews needs to unlock his 60+ goal potential once again, and while he’s getting older he still has a lot to offer for the next couple of seasons at least.
While the team was interested in Panarin, a new report shows that perhaps he isn’t exactly privy on moving here and that the team’s efforts to acquire him may already be in vain.
I hear Toronto last week, but I checked into it and was told no, I mean they may have looked into it, but I don’t think it’s likely for them.
While this doesn’t necessarily mean the Maple Leafs can’t end up surprising everyone, but it does really bring a lot of caveats if they do want to keep pursuing him.
The ‘Bread-Man’ is going to cost a lot of dough
First, they have next to no real assets to give away, and while they could dangle their last bit of hope in Easton Cowan, why would you get rid of a potential future star for a chance to maybe make the playoffs?
Not to mention the absurd amount of money he makes now and will make going forward. Toronto extends him and that makes it another player who is over 32 years old, and one who is already John Tavares’ age and not getting any younger.
Reports suggest that he is going to want a contract worth roughly $50-million total so you’re either looking at 5x$10M or 4x$12.5M as a potential deal; he’d be making more than William Nylander on the latter deal and is half a decade younger.
That means he will be nearly 40 when his deal is done, and if he doesn’t fit in, then it becomes a very difficult contract to move.
If the Maple Leafs were in a position to win and needed to splurge in order to get there (especially since Florida is also struggling) then sure Panarin makes sense.
But with the need to retool and add some youth and future hope for a team who’s window is essentially shut now — maybe a different approach would be better.
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The Maple Leafs’ Artemi Panarin link just took a turn, and it changes the conversation
Should the Maple Leafs splurge and make a deal for Artemi Panarin even if it’s not a good idea?