Marincin’s new deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs carries an AAV of $1.25M – which is a great deal for the Leafs, especially considering Marincin is their third best defender.
In saying that, it doesn’t mean he’s a ‘number three’ defender – it simply means what it says: he is the Toronto Maple Leafs third best defender.
The hope is that Nikita Zaitsev is going to be as advertised and transition well to the North American game while becoming a legitimate top four defender, but that hasn’t happened yet.
For a team that seems prepared to let Hunwick and Polak roam the ice regularly, Marincin will be a nice break.