Mitch Marner (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/93070bb2-dbea-4785-85f3-a71d4e30bce9.jpeg] Mitch Marner (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images) As the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs continue to unfold, it’s as good a time as any to look at the league’s pending UFAs and examine how they’ve helped or hurt their negotiating leverage this summer. Let’s focus on five prominent pending UFAs: 1. MITCH MARNER, RW, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS Heading into the post-season, few players were under more pressure than Marner. Unlike last year, when he had one goal and three points in a seven-game loss to the Bruins, Marner came through, posting seven assists and eight points in the six-game win against the Ottawa Senators [http://thn.com/ottawa]. Marner helped his financial cause greatly [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/marners-leverage-grows-after-strong-first-round-and-so-do-the-leafs-contract-headaches] in the regular season with a career-best 75 assists and 102 points in 81 games, but his first-round performance is a step toward proving he can rise to the occasion in the playoffs. His strong defensive play also helps. Most people now understand Marner won’t likely give the Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs] a hometown discount, and he’s almost assuredly going to make $13 million or $14 million per season beginning next year. The further the Leafs go, the more the 27-year-old is assured of an even bigger raise on the $10.9 million he’s currently making [https://puckpedia.com/player/mitchell-marner] – especially if he can help the Leafs get past the Panthers in the second round. 2. NIKOLAJ EHLERS, LW, WINNIPEG JETS Injuries limited Ehlers to only 69 regular-season games with the Jets [http://thn.com/winnipeg], but he still was able to match his career-high in assists (39) and came within one point of equaling his career high in points (64). Injuries kept Ehlers out of the first five games of their first-round showdown against the St. Louis Blues [http://thn.com/stlouis]. However, he made up for lost time by setting up Cole Perfetti for the game-tying goal that sent Game 7 to overtime. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way for himself and the Jets, Ehlers will have serious interest from many teams and get a raise on the $6 million he’s earning this season [https://puckpedia.com/player/nikolaj-ehlers]. His combination of speed and finishing skills makes him highly valuable. 3. MIKAEL GRANLUND, C, DALLAS STARS Granlund, 33, is no spring chicken. But since Dallas [http://thn.com/dallas] acquired him from San Jose [http://thn.com/sanjose] midway through the season, he’s been solid, combining for 22 goals and 66 points in 83 games with the Stars and the San Jose Sharks. Those are his best totals since he was a member of the Minnesota Wild [http://thn.com/minnesota] in 2017-18. In seven games against the Colorado Avalanche [http://thn.com/colorado], Granlund put up a goal and two points – nothing earth-shattering but nothing that will see him take a pay cut on the $5 million he’s earning this season [https://puckpedia.com/player/mikael-granlund]. At his age, the contract term will likely be as important to Granlund as the dollar amount he eventually arrives at. NHL Playoffs 2025: Winners And Losers From Round 1 Feature Rantanen, Necas And More [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/70a6c029-b973-4e22-aee3-757f2e879b5c.jpeg] NHL Playoffs 2025: Winners And Losers From Round 1 Feature Rantanen, Necas And More Just like that, the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoff field is cut in half. [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-playoffs-2025-winners-and-losers-from-round-1-feature-rantanen-necas-and-more] 4. JOHN TAVARES, C, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS Like Marner, Tavares plays for the high-profile Maple Leafs, so his next contract has been a topic of speculation for the past year. Tavares thrived in the regular season with 38 goals and 74 points in 75 games, and he added three goals and five points against the Sens in Round 1. Despite his age, that should only help his negotiating rights this coming off-season. Tavares, 34, will not earn anywhere close to the $11-millon cap hit he’s been making in Toronto [https://puckpedia.com/player/john-tavares] for the past seven seasons. But if he can get a three- or four-year contract from his hometown Leafs, Tavares should be satisfied at the prospect of ending his terrific career for the Blue & White. 5. SAM BENNETT, C, FLORIDA PANTHERS Bennett’s skill and sandpaper make him highly regarded to pretty much every team out there, and his current cap hit of $4.425 million [https://puckpedia.com/player/sam-bennett] makes him one of the better bargains in the NHL. This year, he’s put up career bests in assists (26) and points (51), but his recent playoff history assures him of a considerable raise this summer. The 28-year-old had seven goals and 14 points in 19 games during Florida’s Cup run last year. This spring, he’s put up three goals and five points in the Panthers’ first-round win over Tampa Bay [http://thn.com/tampabay]. Bennett may choose to remain in Florida over the long haul, but if the Panthers want to keep him, they will have to pay him a good deal more than what he’s currently making. Bennett’s skill set is unique, and while he no doubt wants to stay a Panther, there will be no shortage of teams tempting him with a healthy raise. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
