Insider reveals the frontrunner to land Mitch Marner in free agency
Mitch Marner is set to become a free agent in the summer of 2025, and one team is already preparing to make him an offer he can't refuse.
The Mitch Marner situation has been intriguing for the Maple Leafs this offseason. With the 2024-25 regular season approaching, the likelihood of him being traded before the season starts is diminishing. Marner is expected to be a free agent in 2025, and reports suggest he is more likely to leave the team than re-sign, making him the biggest name in a strong free-agent class.
According to insider Mark Lazarus, the Chicago Blackhawks are gearing up to make Marner a huge offer if he reaches free agency.
"The fact that Davidson was ready to trade next year's unprotected top pick (almost certainly a top-10 pick) to Columbus for the ability to draft Demidov is as clear a sign as any that the Blackhawks are ready to stop living years in the future. Could they deal away future picks for players? It's possible, but unlikely. Trades like that are rare, and it's not as if they'll be in the rental market at the trade deadline. But perhaps they look for this generation's Brian Campbell and/or Marian Hossa next summer � the player who signals to both the team and its fans that it's time to start taking the Blackhawks seriously again.
With Mitch Marner, Brock Boeser, Nikolaj Ehlers, John Tavares, Shea Theodore and Aaron Ekblad among the players slated for unrestricted free agency next summer, just as players such as Oliver Moore and Levshunov are ready to break into the NHL for good, things could get interesting very quickly," wrote Lazerus in response.
This report comes as no surprise, as Chicago was one of the first teams linked to Marner when the trade rumors began. With elite young talents like Connor Bedard and Artyom Levshunov, the Blackhawks are ready to take the next step toward contending.
Marner will demand a significant salary on his next deal, and with the amount of cap space the Blackhawks have, it makes complete sense. The team has already added players like Tyler Bertuzzi, Alec Martinez, and Teuvo Teravainen in free agency, building the core of a playoff team.
There are still many variables before free agency officially begins in 2025, but it appears Chicago is ready to make a big splash.
Credit: hockeypatrolInsider reveals which team will push hardest for Mitch Marner in free agency
| POLL | ||
28 JUILLET | 168 ANSWERS Insider reveals the frontrunner to land Mitch Marner in free agency Will Mitch Marner leave the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency? | ||
| Yes | 115 | 68.5 % |
| No | 53 | 31.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
