And if a team offer sheets him he’s gone unless he REALLY wants to be a Leaf instead of securing his future

Why wait to sign him last

That would be the issue. $7.5M off from Toronto would probably get somebody to throw an offer sheet out there.

This is such a bad strategy... The title should be "How To Lose Your Leading Scorer Via Offersheet"

I came here thinking wait until other big names sign first, like Rantanen, Laine, Connor, Tkchuck so Dubass can judge Marner's value, rather than make Chirella's mistake in Edm by setting the new bar with that awful Draisaitl deal which is screwing all other GM's.

We should already know his value tho

First I don’t think this is a way to conduct negotiations.

Your point isn’t completely off base but you can not offer sheet marner if he does not hit rfa. If marner is not willing to do a 1 year 7.8m deal you could certainly still make trades. This option does one thing very well. It secures all other rfa’s From offersheets and allows us to trade them.

To the author of this AGM, Marner’s camp is not negotiating in season. That may change now that Matthews is signed but so far they have not met to hash this out.

Leafs aren't really in charge of their destiny when it comes to "when" their RFAs sign. But a one year deal isn't best for the Leafs or Marner. A retired Marleau solves the Leafs cap problem.
But a 3rd year Marleau as your figures show the Leafs are about 6m over the cap if they keep Brown and sign Marner long term. Where to find 6m? One move only IMO....and his name is below Marners on your roster.

Yeah, I don't know if its a bad strategy, so much as one that comes with some very real risk.. but if its done with transparency from Dubas's side in an ethical way, then it allows the leafs to negotiate from a position of strength instead of being handcuffed .

Dubas: Mr. Ferris, now that Auston has signed we'd reaĺly like to open up negotiations again .

Ferris: Nah, we like where we're at and we'll wait until the offseason to talk. I don't want Mitch to be distracted. If I have something to say I'll be intouch with Feshuck and he'll let you know what I'm thinking..

Dubas: well, we respect your position, but as you know we have other rfas that we need to secure with contracts. We'd prefer to secure Mitch first, but we will continue with our work and will make ourselves available when you're ready..

I think its bad practice for an Nhl club to have its hands tied for planning purposes. I agree that if Mitch's camp wants to wait then there's other business to be done and dubas should get the rest of the rfas done so they have some budget certainty in their position and understand what options they have, instead of being forced to react to Ferris's demands, or worse, an offer sheet for kappy or Johnson. Dubas can set his number for Marner, whatever that might be, and if there isn't enough to sign Mitch then, like Po states, Dubas can make trades with some certainty, inlcuding Kappy without worrying about being forced to sell low or react to an OS. Nothing sayin Dubas can't line up trades and have them ready to go the moment Mitch is ready to sign.. and if Ferris is adamant at holding out for AM money then the nuclear option might be available with an OS that Marner signs, the leafs take 4 firsts and sign someone like Stone/Duchene with the money they earmarked for Mitch..

but I think an OS is unlikely, I doubt Mitch would go the Nylander route and sit too long (think it would kill him to miss that much hockey) and like many have posted, Mitch signs a bridge that works for both sides.. Bob's your uncle, everyone's relatively happy, and life goes on..