Mitch Marner said it all on Twitter
“I’m exactly where I want to be, in front of the greatest hockey fans in the world, proudly continuing the tradition with the Maple Leafs,” Marner tweeted. “See you soon.”
On Friday, Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs reached a deal worth $10.9 million a year for six years.
“Sometimes it takes a little bit longer than others, and Mitch is obviously an important player for our team, just the type of guy he is as well,” Maple Leafs center John Tavares said a month ago. “We really count on him, so obviously we want to get him there for Day One of camp and get moving forward and continue to kind of build this thing and work toward the ultimate goal.”
Marner was drafted fourth in the 2015 NHL entry draft and has picked up 224 points on 67 goalsin 241 regular-season games; in the playoffs, he has amassed and 17 points on five goals in 20 playoff games.
“It’s great. He’s a big part of the team,” Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen said. “It’s great to have everyone together and have a full team.”
As long as teams were throwing millions around, the Winnipeg Jets decided to jump into the fray as well and signed Josh Morrissey to a six-year, $50 million contract extension that takes effect in the 2020-21 season.
“I felt like it was a great fit,” Morrissey said. “I love playing here. The term excited me. The fact that I get to have that stability, but to be here and playing in Winnipeg, from Day One it’s what I’ve always said that I wanted to do. To have that and the way it worked out, I’m really excited.”
This past season he skated in 59 games and picked up 31 points on six goals and added a single assist in six Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Morrissey was drafted in 2013 and 77 points on 19 goals through 223 NHL regular season games.
“Hopefully that’s a positive thing,” Morrissey said. “But on an individual level, I’m really excited to have this opportunity to be here and to be a Winnipeg Jet going forward (and) at the same time, focus on winning. That’s what I’m most excited about.
“From talking to the guys in the room, everyone has come from that mindset. We’re excited about this year, we’re excited to show what we can do as a team and try to build with our young group that is still one of the youngest in the League.”
Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor remain unsigned in Winnipeg and missed the opening of training camp. Morrissey’s services will be essential if the Jets cannot get their top talent signed.
“To see him step in as a pro at that point in time, you knew you had something pretty special,” General manager Kevin Cheveldayof said. “Then he came and played and developed in the American Hockey League (with Manitoba in 2015-16) … you did see that his development path was going to lead to some great things.
“That’s the Josh Morrissey on the ice. The Josh Morrissey off the ice is just a top, top-notch person, always willing to give back to the community, always willing to do things for others on his team. We’re really, really excited today to be able to announce this and have him as a long-term Jet.”
Meanwhile, over in Anaheim, the Ducks announced that neither Ryan Kesler nor Patrick Eaves would ice this season.
Kesler, 35, had resurfacing surgery on his in May.
“At this point in my career, this surgery was the best option for my quality of life,” Kesler said after the surgery. “The pain I was suffering has been greatly reduced since the procedure, and I’m grateful for that. While my playing future is unknown, I’m in a good place.”
Ducks general manager Bob Murray made the call on both players on Friday.
“He’s doing really well and the resurfacing has worked,” Murray said. “I’m not going to comment on the rest of his career, but that’s very doubtful at this point.”
Eaves, also 35, suffered a series of lower body injuries last season and an illness issue that has kept him out of most of the last two season.
“I won’t say he’s retiring, but he’s out for the year,” Murray said. “Whatever you want to call what he had keeps resurfacing. He’s tried a couple times to come back, but he and his wife have decided that’s enough for now, and I totally agree with that at this point in time.”
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