If you happen to wished to create the right straw man for every little thing outdated heads hate concerning the present crop of NHL stars, you’d make one thing that appears lots like Mitch Marner.
He’s uber proficient, however can’t present up in essentially the most vital moments, and he’s all the time whining and groaning about his contract. Marner doesn’t appear to have the sting required to significantly contend for a championship in comparison with his 2015 Draft contemporaries — together with Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Mikko Rantanen.
It additionally doesn’t assist that Marner performs for probably the most scrutinized groups within the league with a rabid but impatient fan base.
However as irritating as he may be at occasions, he’s nonetheless probably the most proficient gamers within the NHL. His free company will develop into a tabloid second for the league, and it might finish in a record-setting contract.
Earlier than the remainder of the media jumps in on it after the playoffs, right here’s my early rating of the highest groups who take advantage of sense to signal essentially the most prized free agent.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Right here’s an apparent opener: The Maple Leafs ought to have one of the best odds of signing Marner.
One other unhealthy playoff run this 12 months shouldn’t be a disqualification to a Toronto fan base that, at this level, must be used to unhealthy playoff runs. The sentimental worth of retaining a homegrown star like Marner can’t be misplaced on the Maple Leafs.
They might want a shakeup in Toronto, however does a subtraction of expertise equate to a shakeup?
The issue with the Maple Leafs might have extra to do with having to play Brad Marchand yearly than with the gamers on their roster.
Whereas I view Toronto as a transparent favourite to win the Marner sweepstakes, I can perceive why their entrance workplace could be unwilling to dish out a record-setting contract to a participant who hasn’t been useful in any playoff collection up to now.
Los Angeles Kings
Exterior of staying in Toronto, just a few locations with the cap house and a preexisting staff might give Marner an opportunity to contend instantly.
A type of is the Kings, who’re reportedly very inquisitive about signing the 28-year-old.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that LA’s new common supervisor desires to go “huge sport” searching this offseason, and immediately linked the staff to Marner. Moreover, a author for SportsNet labeled the Kings as your best option for Marner to signal with.
Free brokers in each sport have lengthy been known as to signal contracts in Los Angeles. The Kings even pulled off the most important coup in hockey historical past once they pulled Wayne Gretzky away from the Edmonton Oilers.
By way of stress, LA and Toronto are worlds aside. If Marner is on the lookout for a extra stress-free life-style the place he and his household can really get pleasure from their lives with out getting dying threats from deranged Maple Leafs followers, then the Kings are a logical alternative.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago GM Kyle Davidson has $30 million to construct a extra full staff round Connor Bedard this summer season. Can a few of that cash go to signing Marner?
What the Blackhawks might attempt to do within the offseason is like having a toddler to save lots of the wedding.
They need to be rightfully involved about their famous person, Connor Bedard, turning into as temperamental as Marner has develop into for the Maple Leafs if they will’t construct him a authentic contender. In an try to resolve that downside, they could simply tackle one other by signing Marner.
A line with Marner and Bedard would for certain be a deadly one, no matter whether or not it’s simply on the ability play. However can a prickly character like Marner’s be detrimental to constructing a successful tradition once more in Chicago?
It’s clear that the Blackhawks want a star they usually’d have the cash to make that star Marner, however there’s nonetheless some concern concerning the match.
Utah Mammoth
One other staff that has money and desires a splashy free agent signing is the newly named Mammoth.
Utah has just a little over $22 million to play with within the offseason, a necessity for an elite top-six ahead, and an proprietor who desires the PR of grabbing one among an unique six groups’ finest gamers.
The Ryan Smith issue is akin to how a high-profile proprietor like Mark Cuban within the NBA would function. Mammoth GM Invoice Armstrong confirmed this by suggesting that Smith has a starvation for giant free brokers and the money to get it performed.
“Ryan is unquestionably, and the possession group, is able to ensuring that we will just about get something performed within the league that we have to get performed,” Armstrong mentioned.
Smith, who additionally owns the Utah Jazz within the NBA, proclaimed Utah a “prime three” market without cost brokers in each sports activities.
Getting Marner makes good hockey sense, and it’s a signing that might imply much more for the Mammoth as a franchise.
