from Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun,

Look, the fierce clash between angst and excitement that squared off through Leafs Nation Sunday at the announcement that the Leafs are shelling out a cap hit of $6.25 million over each of the next three years for a player who will be 38 on opening night this coming October is understandable.

Is it a panic move a la the Brian Burke era, where plans to stay the course for a rebuild were derailed by the lure of veteran free agents? Remember Mike Komisarek?

Or is it a shrewd realization that quick actions like this must be taken before budding superstar Auston Matthews and his handlers come looking to win the lottery in his next contract, the league’s financial landscape having been altered by the reported eight-year deal worth in excess of $13 million per season that the Oilers’ Connor McDavid is on the verge of receiving?

Whichever side you take in this argument, there is no debating this point: The addition of Marleau signifies the Maple Leafs are in a win-now mode, like it or not.

Knowing that big paydays are in store for kids such as Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander in the near future, general manager Lou Lamoriello identified a narrow window for this move to be made. Matthews and Marner have two years remaining on their entry level deals and are on pace to break the bank.

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