Mammoth Could Make Run at Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner

The Toronto Maple Leafs are likely to look very different once next season kicks off. With multiple key players entering free agency, Toronto's roster is likely to lose some talent.

The biggest piece is star forward Mitch Marner, who is expected to garner a massive payday this summer. Many around the NHL don't believe that Marner will return to Toronto, and this could open the door for multiple teams to go after him.

There will be no shortage of suitors for his services, but only a small handful may truly be able to afford him. One of those is the Utah Mammoth, which could be looking to make a splash this offseason.

NHL insider James Mirtle of The Athletic believes that the Mammoth should consider going after Marner this offseason.

"The Mammoth fell just short of a wild-card berth this season, and a big reason was that their offense couldn’t keep up with most of the playoff teams. Utah finished 21st in scoring despite Clayton Keller’s having a career year (90 points). They have a lot of intriguing prospects coming, a lot of cap space and aren’t far from being a playoff team routinely. Marner would put them over the top.", Mirtle wrote.

Utah almost made the postseason last year, and they will have their inaugural season as the Mammoth this year. Signing a player like Marner could be massive for them in terms of popularity, while also helping on the ice.

Marner dropped 27 goals and 75 assists this season, so his production could help this young team get over the hump. Pairing him alongside Clayton Keller would form a dynamic duo and give the fans in Utah something to fully cheer about.

If Marner values a quieter environment after spending the first part of his career in Toronto, Utah could be perfect. The Mammoth are seemingly ready to make some moves, and Marner could be the ideal chess piece.