The calendar has flipped to June, which means we’re into NHL free agency talk in a big way for the next four weeks.
But will Marner be interested if they are the highest bidder in free agency?
Los Angeles Kings One of the few playoff teams in a desirable market that definitely needs help up front, has cap space and will be aggressive in free agency.
But after some high-profile misses in free agency last year and a brutal season on the ice, will they want to try again?
The Blues can also free up the requested cap space, if needed, with Torey Krug destined for LTIR.
Since the calendar has turned to June, the next four weeks will be dominated by discussions about NHL free agency.
Additionally, Mitch Marner will be the big fish that the majority of the league targets on July 1 in a year with few UFAs. In my opinion, up to 15 teams currently make sense for a Marner bid, though that might be a conservative estimate.
Here is my assessment of all 32 teams and how they will likely handle one of the biggest names to reach free agency since John Tavares (seven years at $11 million per season) in 2018 and Artemi Panarin (seven years at $11.6 million) in 2019, taking into account teams’ roster needs, cap situations, and likelihood of pursuing him, as well as Marner’s possible desired landing spots.
The most likely one fits. .
Hurricanes of Carolina.
No team in the running will need a star offensive player and as much cap space as the Hurricanes, who are expected to be aggressive on July 1 after yet another disappointing exit. Nearing the March 7 deadline, Marner declined a trade to Carolina, but given the no-movement clause and the impending fatherhood, it made perfect sense from a personal standpoint. That circumstance hasn’t made the Hurricanes any less interested. However, if they are the top bidder in free agency, will Marner be interested?
Los Angeles Kings.
It’s one of the few playoff teams in a desirable market that will be aggressive in free agency, has cap space, and clearly needs help up front. Ken Holland, the new general manager, has made it clear that he plans to use his cap space to help his team advance further in the postseason. Marner, who knows coach Jim Hiller from their time in Toronto, feels like a perfect fit on a team that takes such a strong defensive stance. The Kings are in the running, but they won’t be the front-runner.
The Mammoth of Utah.
Since the Mammoth didn’t even make the playoffs and Marner will probably want to go to a contender, I was hesitant to list Utah here. Since the Coyotes years, this group has actually only qualified once in the previous 13 years. They are, however, in a good position to make a significant move because of their youth movement and all of their cap space. Perhaps Marner chooses to take a chance on a young team instead of a sure thing if charismatic new owner Ryan Smith can do a good job selling it? It would be a more subdued media environment out near the Wasatch Range.
Golden Knights of Vegas.
The ultimate big-move team feels like they’ll find a way to be in on this one, and their bid would have the best components of something Marner would be interested in. They would need to figure out a way to cut salary, but when has that ever been an issue for Kelly McCrimmon and friends?
All the long shots and maybes.
Anaheim Ducks.
Many people have linked Marner to the Ducks, but since they’ve been rebuilding for so long, I expect this to be a difficult sell for such a well-known UFA. However, given the need and the acres of cap space, they might be able to make a high bid and have a chance of winning him over.
Boston Bruins.
They have a lot of good players in place, including David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman, so scorched earth doesn’t seem like the best option. Boston’s season was undoubtedly a loss this year, but do they try to pull a Capitals and retool quickly? Given how fiercely competitive they are in the division, it would be a bit of a heel turn for Marner, but I don’t think we can rule it out completely based on that. They undoubtedly have the cap room following their significant pre-deadline sell-off.
The Chicago Blackhawks.
Chicago residents are becoming increasingly frustrated as the reconstruction continues. With a huge bid, they will undoubtedly be in the running, and Connor Bedard provides them with one key component. They don’t have to worry about the cap hit at first because the Blackhawks are still years away from making the playoffs, which might make it easy for them to make an offer of $15 million or more. This could be where Marner finds the most money. That won’t likely be the primary factor that pushes them down to this level, though.
The Colorado Avalanche.
The Avs have a huge hole on RW after losing Mikko Rantanen. And Marner must find it appealing to play with Nathan MacKinnon. Although having Gabriel Landeskog off LTIR complicates Colorado’s cap situation, they can still salvage a Marner contract with a few astute maneuvers. However, after refusing to give Rantanen $12 million, are they prepared to make a sizable offer, particularly since Cale Makar is set to sign a huge new contract in 2027?
The Columbus Blue Jackets.
One of the season’s greatest feel-good tales was Columbus, who came within two points of qualifying for the playoffs despite having a roster that was barely above the floor and having to deal with the unimaginable tragedy of Johnny Gaudreau’s death. Although UFAs don’t always flock to this market, that may start to change as the Blue Jackets gain more success. They have a ton of cap space and an exciting youth movement, so perhaps they do well here.
Red Wings of Detroit.
A big swing is what Steve Yzerman needs. The Red Wings could use one or two more stars to help them move forward as their rebuild enters its eighth or ninth year, depending on when you mark the clock. Despite all of the losses over the last ten years, they still have the cap space to make this work and are a legendary Original Six franchise. However, the spotlight is off free agents, and Marner would probably search elsewhere for a better opportunity to succeed.
The Florida Panthers.
The Panthers are another team that is frequently mentioned in rumors, but their predicament is a little more nuanced than it first appears. They would have the cap space if they allowed Aaron Ekblad and Sam Bennett to walk, which seems doubtful, but they would also have significant holes, particularly on defense. And captain Aleksander Barkov earns $10 million, more than any other player on this team. The playoffs in the Atlantic Division next year would undoubtedly be more interesting if Marner were to accept less than market value to play for the Leafs’ rivals.
The Nashville Predators.
The Predators will always have the cap room to place a bid in this market, which is always desirable to visit. However, will they want to try again after a terrible season on the ice and some high-profile misses in free agency last year? More importantly, will Marner be willing to overlook their difficulties and take a chance on a rebound?
San Jose Sharks.
Intriguing young prospects, including Macklin Celebrini, and a ton of cap space make this rebuilding team a potential UFA attraction. Marner has a close relationship with local legends Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, and the Sharks have long been a market that players want to be in. Perhaps a long shot, but a shot none the less.
Tampa Bay Lightning.
Marner would probably want to be in that position, and coach Jon Cooper has previously praised him. However, it feels difficult to perform the cap gymnastics to make this happen. Would they be willing to forgo a core piece in order to add on the wing, where they are already fairly deep, as they are $7 million short of being able to fit in a $13 million addition?
Most likely not.
The Buffalo Sabres.
With everything that’s been happening there, they will have trouble signing any big-name free agents.
Flames of Calgary.
Given all the competition, it’s difficult to see them finishing in a draw, even with their unexpected performance this past season and some promise in goal. Marner probably ends up in the United States. S. on this transaction as well.
Dallas Stars.
They are loaded up front and extremely tight against the cap, but it’s clear that this is a desirable market. Their major wager on the wing was Rantanen.
The Edmonton Oilers.
It will be difficult to even get Evan Bouchard under the cap. Additionally, they must monitor Connor McDavid’s historic 2026 extension.
Wild Minnesota.
The Wild will probably make one or two big UFA additions given the amount of cap space that is now available, but I believe their targets are more like Brock Nelson and Brock Boeser than Marner. They also need to consider the significant Kirill Kaprizov extension in 2026.
The Montreal Canadiens.
Their offseason strategy doesn’t support a high bid for Marner. Furthermore, I do not anticipate Marner remaining in Canada.
New Jersey Devils.
After they sign RFA Luke Hughes, the Devils will face some cap challenges. Furthermore, considering the other options Marner will have, they don’t seem like a destination at this time.
The Islanders of New York.
Like the Devils, but with less upside and a weaker team on the ice. It will be difficult for new general manager Mathieu Darche to clean up some of the mess that has been left behind.
The New York Rangers.
With RFAs Will Cuylle and K’Andre Miller among others, there are significant cap issues here. They have to be concerned about being targeted on the offer sheet this summer. Additionally, figure out how to cut salary. Don’t exert any pressure.
Senators from Ottawa.
Even though it would make for an interesting plot, I don’t see Marner joining the Leafs’ provincial rival.
The Philadelphia Flyers.
The Flyers do not appear to have any plans to go big game hunting this offseason. Given that they do have some intriguing pieces coming, perhaps in another year or two.
The Pittsburgh Penguins.
The main event would be a reunion with Jason Spezza and Kyle Dubas, but Marner might be more interested in playing with Sidney Crosby. The issue is that the Penguins seem years away from contention and don’t seem like a realistic attraction for high-profile UFAs right now.
Kraken in Seattle.
Given their difficulties on the ice, it’s not a good fit. Their only advantage may be that they have cap space, despite their attempt to make a big splash in free agency a year ago.
In St. The Louis Blues.
Because he will probably have other markets higher on his wish list, going all out for Marner doesn’t seem like a good fit for either side in this situation. However, Marner is friendly with Robert Thomas, and GM Doug Armstrong enjoys being combative. With Torey Krug headed to LTIR, the Blues can also free up the requested cap space, if necessary.
The Vancouver Canucks.
Since Marner is trying to get away from a demanding media environment, I wouldn’t suggest this one, but it’s definitely possible they could open up enough cap space to try, particularly if Elias Pettersson is on the move. I do not mean to offend my home province.
Washington Capitals.
I would be shocked to see this one line up because their cap situation is a little difficult here without major surgery. However, they have a history of aggression, so perhaps they give it a shot since Alex Ovechkin’s large salary may be eliminated in a year.
Jets of Winnipeg.
Unfortunately for the Jets, in this instance, their location is probably going to work against them.
Groundhog Day.
Maple Leafs of Toronto.
Based on what he has stated in public and what I have heard behind the scenes, it appears that Marner is prepared to move on. The only thing left to determine is whether he chooses to rejoin the Leafs after July 1st or if the offers he desires don’t come through. As you can see from the above list, it is unlikely that many of the candidates will be able to provide $13 million. Does that matter in the end? Will he re-engage Toronto or go to a Chicago or San Jose if they are the only ones who get it right?
I would estimate this to have a 2% chance of occurring if you asked me.
Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images is the top image.
