Mitch Marner will not be returning to the Maple Leafs!
One of the big trade rumors in the NHL currently revolves around the Toronto Maple Leafs and their star forward Mitch Marner. Come July 1st, the right winger will officially become an unrestricted free agent. While there is no official word from the Maple Leafs regarding their willingness to trade him, the move could be on the cards, especially if they are looking at a rebuild.
David Pagnotta, an NHL insider, recently provided an update on the ‘The Leafs Nation’ podcast regarding the future of Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner. According to Pagnotta, the Ontario native is set to leave the franchise and has already earmarked around 6-8 teams in the league that he would like to go to.
“We’re not going to hear anything significantly new until we get to draft at best. He’s not coming back, and that’s not a surprise. I think everybody knew that, and he’s going to weigh his options. I think Mitch has six to eight teams that are on his list, and if they come calling, he’s going to explore those. If there’s another market that’s going to be interested in going after him, then you know he’ll consider it, but they’re going to have to pay him handsomely.”
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Depending on what Marner believes to be the better proposition, there are a few options that could work out for him. Of course, the options differ based on a team that is in the win-now mode or a team looking to build around him, but one that can offer him more money.
The Vegas Golden Knights are a top destination for Marner if the chance of winning a Championship is the primary aim. Vegas has been a perennial playoff team and boasts some of the league’s top talent.
The main issue at hand for the Golden Knights is that they currently have only $9.6 million in available cap space, but if they can work out a way to sign Marner, it would be a quality addition to an already strong roster.
If the Los Angeles Kings were to land Mitch Marner, it could be a perfect fit for the team. They are in need of a playmaking forward to come up with more goal-scoring opportunities, and that is precisely what Marner did last season. With 75 assists last year, Marner ranked third in the league, and his 102 points were also good for the 5th spot.
The Kings have decent cap space at the moment with approximately $21.7 million available, but they still need to extend a couple of their other players. The Kings may require some more funds to make this move possible, but if they can manage it, Marner would become part of a good forward group in L.A.
The Carolina Hurricanes are yet another team where Marner could land, especially considering that he almost went there at the trade deadline. The Canes have also been a consistent presence in the postseason, and their disciplined two-way hockey could be a perfect fit for a player like Marner.
With $28.4 million in available cap space at the moment, there are reports circulating that Carolina is willing to sign Marner for around $14 million in Average Annual Value (AAV).
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After a stellar nine-year career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it is now time for Marner to begin a new chapter. Where he will end up is anyone’s guess at the moment, but one thing is for sure: Marner will be more than a value addition to any team he ends up signing with.
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