
The Mitch Marner era appears to be over in Toronto.
The 28-year-old was selected fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Maple Leafs and blossomed into one of the premier players in the league for his hometown team. Over nine seasons in Toronto, Marner accumulated 221 goals and 741 points over 657 games and consistently received Selke, Lady Byng, and Hart votes.
However, regular season points carry only so much weight, particularly for Cup-desperate Maple Leafs fans. Marner is a phenomenal forward, but he also struggles to win puck battles in the dirty areas, a key to any championship-caliber squad.
He is also going to be paid handsomely this summer, and while it may sting for some Toronto fans, the team is probably going to be better off without him.
Here is the latest via Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic:
“The rumor du jour… is that one option Mitch Marner is considering is a two-year deal at around $12 million to $13 million per year.”
LeBrun added,” The Vegas Golden Knights, the Stars and the Kings are among the teams that I believe are high on Marner’s list. The Stars would be a long-shot fit given their financial commitment to Mikko Rantanen, but never say never.”
The Knights currently have about $9.6 million in cap space, but have never had trouble manipulating salaries. Maybe they look to ship a Thomas Hertl ($6.75 million AAV through 2029-30) or an Ivan Barbashev ($5 million AAV through 2027-28) to free up room for the pricey Marner.
His play style may not be a perfect fit in Vegas, but he would also join a Stanley Cup-winning core and learn how to win those tough games from guys like Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, and Alex Pietrangelo.
The Kings are the cleanest fit on paper, with their $21.7 million in cap space more than enough to entice Marner and still fill other holes. Los Angeles has fallen to the Edmonton Oilers in each of the last four first rounds and would be wise to make a splash.
Finally, the Stars are the unlikeliest option with so many crucial pending decisions, such as Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley, on the horizon. Plus, they are strapped for cash.
Regardless of where Marner ends up, a short-term deal to flip his playoff narrative could be his best move.
