Mitch Marner Contract Negotiations
Recent discussions surrounding Mitch Marner suggest that contract negotiations with the Toronto Maple Leafs have not yet begun. As the free agency period approaches on July 1, speculation was mounting that the 28-year-old winger might seek a new team. However, recent reports from TSN’s Darren Dreger clarified that Marner has not explicitly conveyed any intention to leave Toronto, indicating that the team could still be a contender in acquiring his services when he officially enters the market.
Marner and his agents are thought to be taking a cautious approach, planning to explore various offers from interested franchises and aiming for a decision by mid-July.
Options Ahead for Maple Leafs
As July 1 nears, the Marner camp has left the door open for the Maple Leafs, but they may still decide to pursue opportunities elsewhere. The decisions made by the Leafs in the upcoming weeks will play a crucial role in his potential return. According to salary cap monitoring service PuckPedia, Toronto currently has $25.7 million available under the cap, with 17 roster spots already secured.
This figure may need to accommodate the contract for restricted free agent Matthew Knies, while also potentially allowing for the re-signing of unrestricted free agents (UFA) John Tavares and Max Pacioretty on shorter deals. The remaining cap space might also facilitate significant acquisitions, either through trades during the NHL Draft on June 27-28 or through free agency.
Potential Free Agents and Trade Targets
One player who could emerge as a target for the Leafs is Sam Bennett from the Florida Panthers. However, reports indicate that Bennett does not consider Toronto a favorable landing spot should he reach free agency. According to FanDuel Sports reporter Andy Strickland, Bennett is not inclined to join the Maple Leafs, which may complicate Toronto’s pursuit of high-profile players.
Meanwhile, the free agency landscape will also feature notable names such as Brock Boeser, a right winger and long-time player for the Vancouver Canucks. This 28-year-old athlete has consistently scored 20 goals or more across six of his nine NHL seasons, including a personal best of 40 goals in the last season.
Speculation from The Province’s Ben Kuzma suggests Boeser could be looking to reunite with former teammate J.T. Miller, now with the New York Rangers, especially as the Rangers seek additional scoring options following Chris Kreider’s recent departure to the Anaheim Ducks. Kuzma estimates that Boeser might pursue a long-term deal averaging around $8.5 million annually, a figure that could exceed what the Rangers can afford considering they are managing about $14.5 million in cap space after recent signings. This could necessitate trading players or making other changes to their roster to fit Boeser’s potential contract into their budget.
