Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner is expected to be the most sought-after free agent on the open market this offseason. Following another solid year in Toronto, Marner is expected to land a massive payday in free agency.
However, due to his high price tag, there may only be a few serious suitors for his services. There have already been multiple teams linked to Marner entering the summer, but one team is being told not to even bother going after him.
That would be the Pittsburgh Penguins, who could use a jolt to the roster like Marner. But Josh Yohe of The Athletic makes the case for Pittsburgh to avoid the Maple Leafs star.
"Marner is a great player. He’s buddies with Sidney Crosby. He and Kyle Dubas know each other very well. The Penguins need an infusion of talent and have money to spend. Sounds great, right? But they are in the early stages of a rebuild, and a $100 million contract doesn’t make sense right now."
The Penguins have to figure out what direction they want to go in, and adding a star like Marner may not be the best option. While he would provide a major boost offensively, the team may want to spend that money more wisely to build a more well-rounded roster.
Pittsburgh has missed the playoffs for three straight years, and they haven't been out of the first round since the 2017-18 season. It has been a long couple of seasons for the Penguins, and this offseason will be crucial to getting back on track.
But going after Marner could only hinder the rebuild for the future.
