NHL Insider Floats Panthers Move for Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner
The Toronto Maple Leafs and pending unrestricted free agent Mitch Marner seem to be ready to part ways after nine years together.
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Marner is coming off a 102-point regular season but once again failed to elevate the Leafs in the playoffs, scoring 13 points in 13 games but crashing out in the second round.
The winger enters free agency at age 28 and will most likely command a top-tier salary. Marner will hit the open market on July 1 with no shortage of suitors ready to pay for his services, but one team in particular has NHL insider Jeff Marek intrigued.
Depending on how the Panthers play their cards, they may be able to offer Marner his desired salary, with Florida players Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad also entering free agency.
Speaking on 'The Sheet,' Marek floated the back-to-back champions as a potential landing spot for the Maple Leafs star, citing Sam Bennett as one major factor.
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"Something really interesting happened at the 4 Nations," Marek said. "Mitch Marner played with Sam Bennett, and he looked really different."
Marek said Bennett's playing style brings out a more effective version of Marner compared to his longtime linemate in Toronto, Auston Matthews.
"Matthews and Marner are more similar than they are different," Marek said. 'But Bennet and Marner — those are two distinct players, and I know it's a very, very small sample size, but I think there's something there."
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (16) defends Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63).Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Marek predicted the exit of two Panthers, thus opening enough cap space and roster room to sign Marner and making a potential reunion with Bennett possible, provided Bennett is re-signed to an extension himself.
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'And when you throw in the state tax situation,' Marek said, 'I don't know that it will be outlandish to speculate or wonder about, if the Florida Panthers don't bring back all three...'
Marek finished by predicting Ekblad will sign with the Utah Mammoth and Marchand with the Dallas Stars, giving the Panthers the cap space they need to land Marner.
Related: Panthers' Brad Marchand Addresses Future Immediately After Winning Stanley Cup
Related: Matthew Tkachuk's Message to Free Agent Teammates Won't Please Panthers GM
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
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