An insider revealed two frontrunners ready to break the bank for Mitch Marner in free agency.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving didn't reveal much when he discussed the situation surrounding Marner and his contract in a recent press conference, and his silence could hint at the player's departure from the organization:
'I think Mitch is a tremendous player I think he's a star. I had a meeting with all the players individually, Mitch and I had a discussion. It's emotional right now I'm gonna be in touch with Mitch's representatives and determine what's best. He's got a say in the process we'll see.'
If Marner were to change teams, many organizations would be interested in signing him, but only a handful of them have enough cap space to do it.
Reports confirmed that the Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks will be among the aggressive pursuers.
However, a new development from TSN's Chris Johnston stated that the Chicago Blackhawks and the Carolina Hurricanes are expected to make the biggest offers:
It's not surprising to see that a team on the verge of breaking out like the Hawks - or another that has faced many consecutive Conference Finals eliminations like the Canes - would show interest.
Both teams have a lot of available cap space, but in the end, what will factor most in Marner's decision is the city and what it has to offer his family.
Carolina and Chicago are two big markets, and after a long journey with the Leafs, Marner could be looking to join a smaller, or at least quieter, organization - like Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
Marner, 28, finally reached the 100-point mark for the first time in his career last season. It'll be interesting to see if he can bring the same level of production on another team, without Auston Matthews, William Nylander, or John Tavares.
