This isn't the news Leafs fans likely wanted to hear, but Pierre LeBrun has revealed that there appears to be somewhat of a stalemate in Mitch Marner negotiations. The Toronto position on Mitch Marner's contract negotiation mirrors Colorado's with Mikko Rantanen as both seem content to adhere to an internal salary cap, <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/mitch-marner-has-just-rejected-a-massive-contract-offer-from-the-maple-leafs-is-he-gone' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>placing structure over player demands</a>. Of course, for the Avalanche, that's $12.6 million AAV, Nathan MacKinnon's salary. They won't go higher than that for Rantanen, their impending UFA. Similarly, Toronto is putting a $13 million AAV ceiling on Marner's potential deal, keeping him just below captain Auston Matthews' $13.25 million. According to insider Pierre LeBrun on TSN's 'Overdrive', the Leafs have drawn a clear line of demarcation they won't cross. It really comes down to this: I don't think the Leafs feel that they can or will pay more than $13M (AAV), maybe $12.5M. Is that good enough for Marner?... I think that's the clear line of demarcation, $13 million a year. - Pierre LeBrun <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/HockeyPatrol/status/1877788853995553160'> </a></blockquote></div> The complication is a rising salary cap: Matthews' $13.25 million represents 15.06% of this year's $88 million cap, but with the cap set to rise to $92 million next season, 15% would be the equivalent of $13.8 million. The Marner camp, very likely focused more on percentage than dollar figures, could look at that as leverage. Meanwhile, <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/mitch-marner-8478483' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Marner</a> continues to produce on the ice, strengthening his case for a raise. He's second in NHL assists with 45 and fourth in points at 59, just one back of, you guessed it, Rantanen. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/HockeyDaily365/status/1860857695001051171'> </a></blockquote></div> His performance only serves to further the Leafs' need to keep him, <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/leafs-president-brendan-shanahan-actions-on-mitch-marner-future-is-causing-panic-among-fans' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>even as negotiations remain at an impasse</a>. LeBrun hinted that Marner's loyalty to Toronto runs deep, but advice from his agent to hold out has muddled things. More than anything, though, the disconnect comes down to differing perspectives, teams focused on AAV and players' camps eyeing cap percentages. That gap will have to be bridged, with both sides wrangling with matching up financial realities and long-term visions.