New Suitor Emerges as a Serious Contender for Leafs Pending UFA Mitch Marner
Photo credit: David Kirouac - USA Today Sports
According to one NHL insider, a new suitor has emerged out of the Atlantic Division in the Mitch Marner sweepstakes that could have the Leafs worried.
With the playoffs about to kick off, half the league is now preparing itself for the upcoming draft and free agent frenzy in an attempt to bolster their rosters for the 2025-26 season.
One of those teams is the Detroit Red Wings, who failed to qualify for the post-season for the 9th season in a row and 6th season under the watchful eye of Steve Yzerman.
The Wings have come painfully close a few times during that stretch, but for one reason or another, they have fallen short every time. Yzmeran's 'Yzerplan' has not netted the success that many within the fanbase were hoping for, but this year's elimination from the post-season could spark some major moves during the off-season
One name that almost every team will be looking at to immediately bolster their roster is Mitch Marner. The Toronto Maple Leafs will assuredly do their due diligence in attempting to bring him back into the fold, but should that not be the case, NHL insider Jeff Marek believes Detroit could be a viable landing spot.
"$22 million dollars in cap space, Larkin is locked up, Seider is locked up. I cant't help but think, like it's a not a great free agent class, and I'm getting way ahead of myself here because we haven't seen the playoffs yet, but if you're the Detroit Red Wings, how do you not make a play for Mitch Marner?"
The Athletic's Shayna Goldman adds that while there have been good days under the sun for Yzerman as the general manager, he's also done a lot of nothing when it matters like trade deadlines and free agent frenzies, making Marner an attractive piece but perhaps a long-shot.
"I would ask this for any general manager, but especially Steve Yzerman. I felt like he was onto something... I was like okay let him cook, he has ideas, I feel like he's going the right direction, and last season was the biggest let down in the world from the Jake Walman trade to the nothingness really that followed, I am so disappointed. How does he not do it? But then again, I look at last year and go 'well he didn't'."
It's not expected to be a great free agent class, which makes Marner's situation that much more important. It would seem like an absurdity if the Leafs weren't able to extend the star forward, but crazier things have happened.
Should that be the case, Marner will have plenty of suitors, including a divisional rival in the Red Wings, who have ample cap space to make a legitimate offer at or even above what he's reportedly looking for.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 18 | 4185 ANSWERS New Suitor Emerges as a Serious Contender for Leafs Pending UFA Mitch Marner On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you that the Maple Leafs extend Marner beyond this season? | ||
| 0-3 | 471 | 11.3 % |
| 4-6 | 921 | 22 % |
| 7-9 | 1568 | 37.5 % |
| 10 | 1225 | 29.3 % |
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