Insider Reveals Western Conference Dark Horse Climbing Mitch Marner's List of Preferred Destinations

The Maple Leafs are expected to meet with Mitch Marner and his camp in the coming weeks, if they haven't already, to get some sort of clarity on his plans for July 1st.

Marner has not closed the door on a return to the Leafs, but is expected to test free agency, where he will have his pick of the league, including the Carolina Hurricanes -- a team in which he rejected a trade to at the trade deadline.

The Vegas Golden Knights have had a long-standing connection to Marner dating back to last summer, and they are expected to make another push to land the 28-year-old. However, another Western Conference team is at the top of Marner's list.

According to The Fourth Period's Dave Pagnotta, who appeared on Daily Faceoff's 'The Sheet' on Monday, a California team is at or near the top of the former first-round pick's list of preferred destinations.

With just under $22M in cap space and most of their roster signed for next season, the Kings certainly have the room to offer Marner $13M-$14M or more per season.

Full of young talent, with beaches, warm weather and a perennial playoff contender that while is in a major city would check all or most of the boxes Marner is looking on his list.

Regardless of where Marner goes, it will be the biggest free agent signing since the Maple Leafs signed John Tavares back in the summer of 2018 -- possibly even bigger.