Insider Shares ‘Plausible’ Mitch Marner Move for Maple Leafs Before Free Agency originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to prioritize re-signing captain John Tavares over Mitch Marner this offseason.
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NHL insider David Pagnotta is reporting a growing likelihood that Marner will head to free agency on July 1, but the analyst presented an interesting and not-so-discussed scenario.
In a May 30 article for The Fourth Period, Pagnotta outlined Toronto’s situation with both veteran forwards and offered insight into the club’s internal planning.
“An extension for Tavares is much more likely than one with Marner at this point in time,” Pagnotta wrote. “All indications are Marner is heading to free agency.
“He hasn’t closed the door on a return to Toronto, but he wants to evaluate his options.”
Tavares, who signed a seven-year, $77 million contract in 2018, has repeatedly expressed his desire to stay with the team.
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Although the Leafs are expected to offer Tavares a lower-money contract, talks are expected to progress soon
Meanwhile, Pagnotta said Marner’s list of preferred destinations has narrowed to a few teams, mostly in the Western Conference, with the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights among those mentioned.
“Do I believe they don’t have an idea where they stand with Mitch Marner and John Tavares? Absolutely not,” Pagnotta wrote. “But I get where [Treliving] is coming from.”
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (16) looks on playing with Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off.David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The most interesting scenario shared by Pagnotta, however, has to do with the possibility of Toronto completing some sort of sign-and-trade deal, which is considered unlikely, or a scenario in which the Maple Leafs could opt to trade Marner’s negotiating rights for a draft pick before July 1.
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“Could the Leafs trade his rights for a draft pick to give a team a headstart in contract negotiations?” Pagnotta wondered. “That seems more plausible.”
Related: Elliotte Friedman Reveals Why Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner Trade to Vegas Never Happened
Related: Struggling Western Conference Team Named ‘Team to Watch’ for Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.