4 Teams That Should Try to Steal Mitch Marner From the Leafs
By Adam Godfrey
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, and could find himself a new home because of the Leafs current salary cap situation. Which teams could afford to offer sheet Marner and give up the necessary compensation?
4. New York Rangers
The New York Rangers will have over $19 million heading into free agency this year and are currently among the favorites for Artemi Panarin. If the Rangers turn their attention to getting younger through free agency as well as having the second-overall pick in the draft, offering Marner could be a huge addition in the Big Apple.
3. Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a mess, but being aggressive in free agency could fix a good portion of it. The Senators do not have their first-round pick this year, and would have trouble building through the draft without much draft capital. Turning to Marner makes sense if they can pull it off.
2. New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are in the running for a few big name free agents because of the amount of cap space they will have going into this summer. They could easily afford to tip the Maple Leafs hand by offer sheeting Marner, and either forcing the Leafs to pay a lot more then they want to in order to keep the young stud, or making an offer they are unable to match and getting a 22-year-old coming off of a 94 point season.
1. Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers not only have the cap space to make a big play for Marner, but if the Leafs were to attempt to move him prior to free agency, the Flyers would also be first in line. The Flyers are in line to make a splash in free agency anyway, why not go after the biggest fish and instantly put themselves back in playoff contention?