Marchand: Comment on Marner's next deal was meant as a compliment

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand insists there was no ill intent behind his viral tweet commenting on Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner's future contract.

After Marner hit the 80-point plateau Monday night in Calgary, Marchand tweeted this:

I cant wait to see this kids new deal... 12m AAV?? It better be#Marnerwatch

- Brad Marchand (@Bmarch63) March 5, 2019

Marchand was later asked about what prompted the post.

"Some people really took that the wrong way," Marchand told reporters Tuesday, according to CLNS Media. "You gotta give the kid credit. He's a great player, that's all I was trying to get at. He's having a great year. It's a big milestone for him. Just giving some credit where credit's due, that's all."

Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas also commented on the matter Wednesday.

#Leafs GM Kyle Dubas on Marchand: "That was a master troll job, you have to respect that. With over 90 per cent probability to play Boston in the first round, that he was waking up in the morning thinking about the Toronto Maple Leafs, we'll take that."

- Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 6, 2019

Marner's agent is adamant that negotiations on a new deal for the 21-year-old won't take place until the offseason.

With forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander already locked in for the future, the Leafs will hope to sign Marner at an affordable number - something less than Marchand's estimate - to maximize their window as Stanley Cup contenders.

Whether Marchand was trolling or not, a first-round playoff meeting between Toronto and Boston is likely on the horizon.

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