Star Winger Mitch Marner's Probable New Teams: Bookmakers' Opinions on His Next Club Destination
Ready to dive into the hot topic of the NHL offseason? The biggest question on everyone's minds is where Mitch Marner will end up, and it's a tough one to predict given the handful of compelling options.
Marner, renowned for his 1.26 points per game over the last five seasons and exceptional defensive results, is a top-tier talent. His playoff performance might not be stellar, but with 63 points in 70 games and a positive goal differential, he's still an enticing prospect for many teams.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, his current team, might seem like the obvious choice, but it's a long shot given the homegrown talent's impending departure as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Even if the Leafs were to offer a significant hometown discount, it's questionable whether we'll see Marner in blue and white beyond this offseason.
So, who are the favorites to snag this coveted player? Here's a look at the next team odds courtesy of Bet99:
- Vegas Golden Knights - The Knights are favored to land Marner, despite needing to shed some salary for it to happen. They're always eager to make aggressive moves to better the team, and Marner would take home a higher percentage of his salary playing in Vegas than he would in most other places.
- Anaheim Ducks - The Ducks are reportedly keen to bring in a big fish like Marner to help their leap into contention. They have significant cap space and might be able to offer a higher salary than full-fledged contenders, although Marner may not be drawn to a team that won't be a realistic contender for at least two-or-three seasons.
- Los Angeles Kings - The Kings play in a desirable market and could offer the best combination between being a borderline contender with enough cap space to be one of the highest bidders. They also have a coach, Jim Hiller, that Marner is familiar with from his time in Toronto.
- Carolina Hurricanes - The Hurricanes currently hold the shortest odds to win the 2025-26 Stanley Cup and have expressed interest in Marner before. Although Marner declined a trade to Carolina at the 2024 trade deadline, they remain a viable option for the offensive star.
- Utah Mammoth - The Mammoth could potentially offer the highest salary to Marner, despite a lack of playoff experience. Owner Ryan Smith has quickly improved the team's reputation, and a change of pace might appeal to Marner.
- Florida Panthers - The Panthers are Toronto's Atlantic Division rival and have a similar chance of landing Marner, according to oddsmakers. They would need to let Sam Bennett walk away and send away one key piece to fit Marner's expected salary, but the incentive of success and sunshine might be enticing to Marner.
Stay tuned for more updates on this intriguing storyline as more details emerge.
The Vegas Golden Knights, favored by Bet99, are poised to acquire Mitch Marner, despite needing to offload salary. The Anaheim Ducks, with significant cap space, are also keen to bring in the top-tier hockey player.
