With a less-than-stellar draft lacking depth and limited cap space across multiple franchises, trades will be the primary source of rebuilding for the NHL this season. And with free agency just a few days away, several marquee names are on their way to becoming unrestricted free agents.
One of the biggest names on that list is Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Mitch Marner. With 27 goals and 75 assists across 81 games, he ranks fifth on the leaderboard for most points scored. Multiple sources have also linked him to a new contract worth up to $100 million.
But while speculation continues, one NHL insider hints that things might play out differently. He even suggests the ball might not be in Marner’s court.
Insider Hints That Mitch Marner Could Get a Take-It-or-Leave-It Deal
On the latest episode of the “32 Thoughts” podcast, hosts Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas discussed the latest rumors surrounding the upcoming free agency. Regarding Marner, Friedman believes he might take a visit or two before choosing his next team.
He said, “I actually heard a lot about that over the week from a bunch of different executives and teams. And they said it’s a really good plan, but with one major flaw: What happens if a team that Marner really likes says, on July 1st, ‘Here’s our offer, and it’s on the table until tomorrow?”
This makes sense, as teams have limited cap space and many must make big decisions to rebuild their rosters. In such a situation, if Marner takes too long to decide and another forward with a lower cap hit emerges, Marner might lose out.
Friedman argued teams might say, “Because we can’t afford to wait for you to go through a process like this. We have to know what the answer is, and if you’re not coming, we have to race to Plan B.” Teams with more draft picks will be less willing to wait.
Friedman said Marner would have to make a decision quickly: “A few teams said to me, ‘Someone is going to go in there and say, we’re not doing this. Here’s our offer, and you’ve got X (number of hours)… to take it or leave it.”
Not to mention, with estimates for Marner’s deal ranging between $12.5 million and $14 million average annual value (AAV), teams will be looking to save on expenses. Currently, the Carolina Hurricanes are projected as the most likely suitors for Marner. With about $26 million in cap space, the Hurricanes are significantly better off than other franchises, but there’s no guarantee they will wait long for Marner.
