NHL Rumor Roundup: What Could The Off-Season Hold For Leafs' Mitch Marner?

The trade deadline made Mitch Marner the top player in this summer's NHL free-agent market.

Eligible for UFA status on July 1, the 27-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs right winger is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $10.9 million.

The Dallas Stars signing Mikko Rantanen to an eight-year contract extension as part of his acquisition from the Carolina Hurricanes makes Marner stand out more among the pending UFAs with 82 points in 66 games.

If Marner goes to market this summer, Sportsnet's Luke Fox believes he could become the highest-paid player in the NHL. He prefers to remain a Maple Leaf, but his camp reportedly hasn't engaged in contract extension talks. 

Fox also noted the Carolina Hurricanes offered up Rantanen to the Leafs for Marner. Leafs GM Brad Treliving took the proposal to Marner, but he declined to waive his no-movement clause.

"I'm here to play hockey with this team. That's what I can tell you," Marner told reporters on March 8. "I want to be with this team. I want to play for this team."

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun reported Marner didn't immediately reject the trade proposal, taking time to sleep on it. While he claims he wants to stay in Toronto, Simmons thinks his actions suggest otherwise. 

The Hockey News' Jim Parsons speculated that Marner not accepting the trade means he can increase his value in Toronto, which either forces the Maple Leafs to improve their offer to him or lands Marner a larger contract in free agency.

As Fox suggested, if Marner hits the open market on July 1, he will be an “in-demand talent.” 

TSN's Pierre LeBrun believes the Carolina Hurricanes will target Marner. He pointed out they'll have over $20 million in cap space even if they re-signed all their pending UFAs. That list includes Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov and Taylor Hall. 

A reader asked The Athletic's Josh Yohe if the Pittsburgh Penguins might pursue Marner. He acknowledged Marner's ties to Penguins GM (and former Leafs GM) Kyle Dubas and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, the club's bountiful cap space for next season and Dubas' intent to stock his aging roster with younger talent. 

Nevertheless, Yohe doesn't believe the Penguins will sign Marner. He cited team sources claiming Dubas intends to wait until next summer before making a big move. It's also doubtful that Marner would want to join a rebuilding team. 

Meanwhile, Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic suggested Marner would be an ideal fit as the Boston Bruins' second-line right winger. That's unlikely to happen because they'd have to pay him more than first-line right wing David Pastrnak's $11.25-million cap hit to come to Boston.

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