Although maybe both sides don't like the contracts.....might be the most reasonable alternative there is.

Leafs like it. Keeps marner as an RFA on his next term. Marner gets a bigger contract at prime age.

Or he signs for just one year and is UFA in four years, which he the downside for the Leaf When compared to. 8.45 X 5 Aho deal. 9.5 X 3 ....is great for Marner , and as you suggest potential big pay three year or four years from now.

I agree! It's not the term that the Leafs would want nor the dollars that Marner is gunning for, but it works for both sides in the short term. It will also give Dubas & team more time to extend there d-core which as it stands (minus Rielly) will all need new contracts next year.

Side Question: The Leafs still need to reinforce there goaltending tandem and now that Curtis McElhinney has surprisingly signed with Tampa, would the likes of Louis Domingue be worth going after? His numbers last year were pretty solid, and it may be advantageous for the Leafs to have a little more stability - not to mention wins (I'm looking at you Sparks) to back up Anderson.