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Where will Mitch Marner sign? Here's where the Maple Leafs star could end up, and how he'd fit in
Maybe the Maple Leafs will decide to move on from Mitch Marner. Maybe Marner will decide life will be better elsewhere.
No matter what happens July 1, the hockey prodigy from Thornhill will be the most coveted free agent on the market since John Tavares seven years ago.
Tavares, a former Islanders centre from Oakville, came home to play with Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander, forming the Leafs' Core Four. Now Marner could break up the gang, looking for riches or success elsewhere.
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Marner will be rich, to the tune of $13 million (U.S.) or more a year. Most teams have the salary cap space for him or can find a way to create it.
The question is: Where will he land? He would make any team in the league better, but which one is going to win his services? Here are a handful of possibilities:
Detroit Red Wings
GM Steve Yzerman followed the Leafs through the playoffs, and could believe his team is a Marner away from making the post-season. He's probably right. The Red Wings haven't made the playoffs in nine years but have come painfully close the last two seasons. Despite picking no higher than fourth in the draft (Lucas Raymond, 2020) in their nine wayward seasons, Yzerman has an array of young talent (Moritz Seider, Marco Kasper) that needs outside help to go further.
Leafs
Leafs prospect Easton Cowan isn't about to replace Mitch Marner, but he has the DNA the team is looking for
It's not a sure thing that the Memorial Cup MVP will start next season in the NHL, but there should be opportunity.
Leafs
Leafs prospect Easton Cowan isn't about to replace Mitch Marner, but he has the DNA the team is looking for
It's not a sure thing that the Memorial Cup MVP will start next season in the NHL, but there should be opportunity.
Marner on the right side of centre Dylan Larkin could push the Wings captain to new heights, beyond his usual 30-plus goals a year.
Detroit is a historic franchise with good ownership used to winning. It's also close to home for Marner. But even with a 100-point right winger, the Wings wouldn't be a serious Stanley Cup contender.
Vegas Golden Knights
From Jack Eichel to Alex Pietrangelo to Mark Stone to Noah Hanifin, Golden Knights owner Bill Foley is used to making a big splash and getting the shiniest bauble available.
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A quick look at their cap situation suggests the Knights don't have enough space, but it's never stopped them before. GM Kelly McCrimmon can be cutthroat, moving on from players quickly. Just ask Max Pacioretty, Marc-André Fleury or the recently repatriated Reilly Smith. Winning matters more than loyalty. It's part of Vegas's DNA, to always find a way to contend.
Just imagine the magic that could develop between Marner and Eichel. Marner would be part of a Cup contender with an underrated fan base, but not one that will blame him for every loss.
Pittsburgh Penguins
GM Kyle Dubas has a long-standing relationship with Marner, having drafted him in Toronto and giving him this six-year, $65.4-million deal that is expiring. And the lure of playing with Sidney Crosby — Marner's childhood hero — could prove too much to resist. Crosby made it clear in the 4 Nations Face-Off that he admires Marner's talent. Marner was giddy scoring an overtime winner on a pass from Crosby.
The Penguins aren't exactly Stanley Cup contenders, now with a rookie coach in Dan Muse. But Marner would make the team younger and could get them back into the playoffs. And not that the 37-year-old Crosby needs a new lease on life — he had 91 points last season — but Marner might give him one anyway.
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New York Rangers
Owner James Dolan has no patience for losing, and with the team failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021, he'll be on board with paying to make the team better. Marner would also be insurance with Artemi Panarin heading into his free agency year in 2025-26. The Rangers are deep at forward, so Marner wouldn't have to carry the load. But he could help get more out of Alexis Lafrenière or help revive Mika Zibanejad after an off-year.
Utah Mammoth
The renamed Utah Hockey Club is looking to make a big splash to reward fans for their support and to build loyalty by making the playoffs. The team built on the backs of the defunct Arizona Coyotes has some rising talent in Clayton Keller, Lawson Crouse and Dylan Guenther. Marner would be 'the man' on the Mammoth.
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New York Islanders
Wouldn't that be a delicious turn of events for an Islanders fan base that saw their prized captain Tavares leave for Toronto seven years back? New GM Mathieu Darche, the former right-hand man of Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois, has plenty of cap space. The Islanders are a good but not great team that missed the playoffs this year. Marner, 28, fits in age-wise with players like Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings have lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round in each of the last four seasons and might see Marner as a means to finally find a way to go deeper. New GM Ken Holland can set a new direction by adding Marner to a lineup rife with high-skilled veterans (Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe) and burgeoning young talent (Quinton Byfield, Alex Laferriere).
Leafs
Opinion
Damien Cox: The Maple Leafs have given themselves no choice but to try and re-sign Mitch Marner
There is much less of a choice here with Marner than it once seemed, and Brad Treliving is the one who let it get to this point, writes Damien Cox.
Leafs
Opinion
Damien Cox: The Maple Leafs have given themselves no choice but to try and re-sign Mitch Marner
There is much less of a choice here with Marner than it once seemed, and Brad Treliving is the one who let it get to this point, writes Damien Cox.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning coach Jon Cooper loves Marner. He has coached him a couple of times at international events and will again next year at the Winter Olympics. Marner probably has a closer relationship with Cooper than he would with most opposition coaches. Who wouldn't want to play for a coach who appreciates your talent?
It would take some cap magic, and maybe a trade or two, for Marner to land in Tampa, but BriseBois has found his way around the cap before. Marner, though, might have to take a back seat to Nikita Kucherov, the first-line right winger. And if Marner harbours any ill will toward the Leafs, going to Tampa could be some Machiavellian revenge.
