Could new coach lure top NHL free agent to Seattle Kraken?

The Seattle Kraken need a star. One is about to become available, and he just finished playing for the Kraken’s new head coach.

NHL Insider: Why Seattle Kraken chose Lane Lambert as coach

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner is set to be the most sought-after free agent on the market when NHL free agency begins July 1. And there’s an obvious connection to the Kraken now that Lane Lambert, who was an assistant with the Maple Leafs this season, was named Seattle’s third head coach in franchise history Friday.

Do the Kraken actually have a shot at luring Marner to the Pacific Northwest? Jeff Marek, host of Daily Faceoff’s “The Sheet,” addressed that question when he joined Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy.

“I think that’s one of the things that people looked at right away,” Marek said. “… I don’t think it’s that easy.”

Stiff competition

Marek noted the Kraken should be in the market for offense and potentially a star player this offseason. For those reasons, Marner makes a lot sense.

The 28 year old is a four-time All-Star. He was fifth in the league with 102 points and third with 75 assists this season. He’s scored at least 20 goals in all but two of his nine NHL seasons, including two with 30 or more.

Houdini’s muse: Mitch Marner 🪄 pic.twitter.com/dJmW39u0Fe

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 6, 2022

But the Kraken will be far from the only team looking to acquire Marner’s services.

“The Carolina Hurricanes are interested and have a lot of (salary) cap space, and I was talking to someone (Friday) morning who said don’t be surprised if Carolina offers as much as $14 million per season for Mitch Marner, which is that absolute whopper of a number,” Marek said. “We wonder about the Vegas Golden Knights with Mitch Marner. We wonder about the Chicago Blackhawks with Mitch Marner.

“Now, with the way the Dallas Stars went out against the Edmonton Oilers, I was talking to someone that said don’t discount the fact that (general manager) Jim Nill and the Dallas Stars are right there, real close to a Stanley Cup appearance. Is it a player like Mitch Marner that puts the Dallas Stars over the top?”

Marek doesn’t believe landing Marner will simply come down to who is willing to spend the most.

“I think Marner wants to be in a winning environment,” Marek said. “And no slight against Seattle, but Vegas is where Vegas is and they’re closer to a Stanley Cup, and Carolina is closer to a Stanley Cup and Dallas is closer to a Stanley Cup. And that’s why I would put any of those teams ahead of Seattle in the Mitch Marner derby.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player in this story. Listen to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

Could new coach lure top NHL free agent to Seattle Kraken?

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