Mitch Marner could have a twist coming in his contract negotiations.
The Toronto Maple Leafs winger is widely expected to break the previous record of $12 million per year in a wing contract. Projections have suggested the high-priced free agent will get around $14 million per year.
But it may not be for a mega length like most top NHL free agents go for.
Instead, Marner may sign for two years, according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.
LeBrun writes that a two-year deal makes a lot of sense for Marner because the summer of 2027 will feature an upper limit of the NHL salary cap at around $113 million. Entering the 2025-26 season, that number is around $95.5 million.
So could Marner sign a two-year, $28 million deal and then be a free agent in two years? Definitely sounds that way.
And if that’s what he’s pursuing, it could change his list of suitors at least a bit.
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The Ducks and Golden Knights are two of the hottest in pursuit, per reports. But do they want Marner for seven years, or would they settle for just two?
And is there a team that has a much shorter contention window and would prefer to only plug Marner in for a couple of seasons and not more? Perhaps.
It’s certainly a wrench in the proceedings.
Marner is the top available free agent this season. And if he plays his cards right, he could hold that title again (or close to it) in two years when the cap balloons and he’d be able to secure a gigantic payday.
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