I have previously written that the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, Steve Yzerman, should at least attempt to acquire upcoming unrestricted free agent right-winger Mitch Marner. After being drafted number four overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Marner has played his entire career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Red Wings have over $2 million with which to go after free agents this summer.
The Maple Leafs’ “core four” of Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares. When asked about whether he wants to return to the Maple Leafs, Marner said, “I haven’t processed anything yet.” If nothing else, acquiring Marner would weaken an Atlantic Division opponent in the Maple Leafs. With that in mind, where does Marner fit into the Red Wings’ lineup?
Lucas Raymond is the top-line right-winger on the Red Wings roster right now. After being drafted by the Red Wings with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NHL entry draft, the Göthenburg, Sweden native has been durable. Raymond has only missed eight games in his four-year career. In that time, Raymond added much-needed scoring help to the Red Wings’ lineup. Raymond has cracked the thirty-goal mark once during the 2023-24 season, scoring 31 goals, while Marner has done this twice. Marner’s career-high in goals is 35.
Recently, Raymond scored two goals as Sweden defeated Czechia to advance to the semi-finals at the IIHF Men’s World Championships. Marner did not play for Team Canada at the Men’s Worlds as they were eliminated stunningly by Denmark. Perhaps this was due to his upcoming free agency. On the other hand, Marner did score the winning goal at the inaugural Four Nations Faceoff tournament in February.
The Maple Leafs won the Atlantic Division in the 2024-25 season with 108 points. In 81 games played this season, Marner scored 27 goals and added 75 assists for a total of 102 points. This is a career-high for the 28-year-old from Markham, Ontario, Canada. Recently, the Maple Leafs were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs after losing game seven in the second round to the Florida Panthers by a score of 6-1. In the series, Marner had one goal and four assists in seven games.
If the Red Wings miss out on signing Marner, there is another unrestricted free agent that they can target. Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers is a 28-year-old from Holland Landing, Ontario, Canada. Bennett was also drafted fourth overall by the Panthers in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. While he does not have the offensive caliber of Marner, Bennett does bring physicality despite being 6’1”. In 76 games played for the Panthers during the 2024-25 season, Bennett scored 25 goals and added 26 assists. These 51 points were the most during Bennett’s 12-year career. Bennett won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2024.
After once again falling in the draft lottery, the Red Wings will have the 13th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Red Wings have not been able to add a player such as Marner through the draft. By the time the player the Red Wings select with this draft pick makes it to the NHL, if indeed the player does, the Red Wings need to have made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Adding a player such as Mitch Marner would certainly help the team accomplish this goal.
