Don Waddell and the Columbus Blue Jackets are all set to have a big summer. One could say they could have a franchise-transforming summer. With approx. $40 million to spend, Waddell can start putting his thumbprint on the team and start building a championship-caliber roster. 

In this series, we'll start looking at the unrestricted free agents that "could" be available on July 1st. 

Today, we'll start with the big fish - Toronto Maple Leafs Winger Mitch Marner.   

Target: Mitch Marner - RW - 28 Years Old - 9 Yrs Experience 

Marner is coming off the first 100-point season of his career, and it couldn't have come at a better time. He's come close to 100 a few times, but this year he finally broke through, and he did it in a contract year, which should land him a giant deal with whoever he wants to sign with. 

Stats

Marner has played in 657 games and has a total of 741 points, scoring 221 goals and recording 520 assists. Marner has 228 power-play points and is a plus-128 for his career. He also has 57 points in 62 career playoff games. 

Previous Salary

Marner is coming off a six-year deal that paid him $10,901,333 per season. His salary was the 4th highest on the Maple Leafs, but he'll most likely be the highest-paid player on whatever team he signs with, should he decide to leave. Some salary experts predict his next contract will land him somewhere in the $12.6M per season range. 

Realistic Chances Of Signing With Columbus

Don Waddell will 100% make the call to Marner and try to pitch Columbus to him. Marner is used to playing in the pressure cooker that is Toronto, so Columbus would be a step down in terms of the limelight. Rumors from years ago still float around that former CBJ GM Jarmo Kekäläinen called Marner and his agent about an offer sheet, but they told Kekäläinen not to bother; he wanted to sign in Toronto. 

I think that Marner will leave Toronto and will go to a team where he can be "The Man." The Columbus Blue Jackets can offer him what he wants, and he can be a star, surrounded by other stars like Sean Monahan, Adam Fantilli, and Zach Werenski. 

Could you imagine a top line featuring dynamic winger Mitch Marner? I can. 

Let us know what you think below.

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