Marner will get paid in USD. Using 10M at the current exchange rate is an annual salary of 13.4M Cnd. Marner lives, and primarily works and spends his money, in Canada. There are benefits to players who sign with teams that have no state income tax. That's part of the of the story. Its not the whole story.

Leafs are going advocate for "overtime" rosters. One goalie, and three skaters. So let's see a roster 2 goalies, 9 skaters plus two press box.....that's 13. Owners will love it.

I believe one day we'll see 4 on 4 regular game hockey, I've been stating for years that with the players getting bigger, stronger, faster and smarter that the NHL needs to increase the rinks (extra cost for the owners so that's a no) or go to full time 4 on 4 thus creating more ice room for the star players to showcase their talent. Plus like you said, owners would love to reduce 2-3 players pay checks off their rosters and when the NHL expanded by 2 more teams, the NHLPA couldn't complain about the lost jobs, but it's too late now.