NHL Rumor Mill – May 23, 2025
Potential free-agent destinations for Mitch Marner, plus the latest on the Mammoth, Flyers, and Devils in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
PROPOSED DESTINATIONS FOR MARNER
SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon listed what he believes are the top landing spots for Mitch Marner in free agency this summer. The 28-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs winger will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Dixon suggested the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals as destinations for Marner.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some teams on this list (Ducks, Mammoth, Blackhawks) are rebuilding teams with plenty of cap space to sign Marner to a lucrative long-term contract. That won’t be enough to entice him if he wants to play for a contender.
Some (Kings, Islanders) are under new management and might make a big splash in the free-agent pool. The Kings have the cap space but new GM Ken Holland could prefer more affordable options. The Isles can’t afford Marner unless they shed a lot of salary, especially with restricted free agents like Noah Dobson, Alexander Romanov, Maxim Tsyplakov and Simon Holmstrom to re-sign.
The Penguins are rebuilding, but general manager Kyle Dubas has a connection with Marner from his days as the Leafs GM. They have the cap room to pull it off, but Dubas seems unwilling to pursue a big-ticket free agent this summer.
Golden Knights management is renowned for making bold moves, but their limited cap room would hamper efforts to land Marner. Cap space is also an issue for the Avalanche, whose most pressing need is a second-line center if Brock Nelson departs as a UFA. The Capitals have all their core players under contract but lack enough cap dollars to win a bidding war for Marner.
The Hurricanes seem the more likely destination. They’re a perennial playoff team with over $29 million in cap space and 19 active roster players under contract for next season. In March, GM Eric Tulsky said he’d have around $20 million available even if he re-signed all his free agents. If Marner wants a hefty long-term contract and to play for a contender, the Hurricanes are his best option.
THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary also looked at potential destinations for Marner.
If the winger is only interested in the money, Chicago and Pittsburgh would be the best destinations.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: See my previous comments about Chicago and Pittsburgh.
O’Leary listed the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and the Mammoth among the suitors for teams looking to take the next step.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buffalo and Detroit could be intriguing options for Marner if he wants to stay close to home. Signing with the Sabres would provide extra spice to their long-time rivalry with the Maple Leafs.
O’Leary thinks the Hurricanes, Avalanche and the Florida Panthers are contenders who could make it work.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes have the cap room to make it work. The Avalanche and Panthers don’t. The latter will likely try to keep pending UFAs Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and perhaps Brad Marchand in the fold. The Panthers have $19 million available with 16 active roster players under contract. Signing Marner would hinder their efforts to restock their roster depth if Bennett, Ekblad and Marchand depart.
THE MAMMOTH COULD LAND A NOTABLE FREE AGENT
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Quentin Carney wondered if the Utah Mammoth would pursue Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs winger tests the open market on July 1.
The Mammoth would offer Marner a change of scenery and expectations away from the harsh spotlight in Toronto. They also have the cap space to add a major talent this summer.
Spencer Lazary suggested Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser as an UFA option for the Mammoth. He could thrive away from the Vancouver spotlight. Given the good word of mouth about the franchise, Lazary thinks they have good odds of landing Boeser.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong patiently stockpiled draft picks and prospects during his early years on the job. He made a significant move by acquiring defenseman Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning last summer. With over $22 million in cap room and 19 active roster players under contract, Armstrong has the room to land one of this summer’s top free agents.
LATEST ON THE DEVILS
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols proposed three offseason trade targets for the Devils to improve their offense. They were Drake Batherson of the Ottawa Senators, Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres, and Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch recently mentioned Batherson as a trade candidate. However, The Athletic’s Julian McKenzie doesn’t see them moving the affordable winger unless it’s for a better forward.
Tuch might be available if he and the Sabres can’t agree to an extension. Dorofeyev is coming into his own as a scoring forward, so the Golden Knights won’t move him unless they get a more established scorer in return.
Nichols also recently noted that there will be changes in the trade protection for Devils forwards Erik Haula and Ondrej Palat. Haula’s shifts from a full no-trade clause to a six-team no-trade list, while Palat moves from a full no-movement clause to a 10-team no-trade list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Haula and Palat could be peddled to free up cap space for other moves. Haula would be the easiest to move, carrying a $3.125 million AAV through next season. Palat has two more seasons left on his contract with an AAV of $6 million.
UPDATE ON THE FLYERS
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James listed three possible trade candidates if the Philadelphia Flyers wish to free up some cap space this summer.
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has two years left on his contract with an AAV of $5.1 million. Goaltender Ivan Fedotov has a year remaining with a cap hit of $3.275 million. Winger Owen Tippett has seven years left with an AAV of $6.25 million.
James believes trading Tippett would be the hardest decision of the three, citing his youth, potential and leadership after Scott Laughton was traded to Toronto. However, the Flyers have a surplus of wingers and need depth at center. Tippett could be an enticing trade chip to address that need.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: NJ Hockey Now’s James Nichols thinks Tippett would be a worthwhile trade target for the Devils. He suggested they offer up center Dawson Mercer. However, it remains to be seen if Tippett would be available and if the Devils would be interested.
6’3 200, 42A, 26G , an affordable $4.975 million contract and somebody wants to trade the guy??
Batherson is 27 coming into his prime so talk of moving him seems more like twiddling fingers to pass the time unless there some candidates thrown into the suggestion eg a RD of equivalent value.
Couldn’t agree more habfan30.
The recently frequent mention of Ottawa’s Drake Batherson as a trade chip stems, first, from Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch writing, just before the trade deadline, that Staios had been receiving interest from teams, but he was also quick to assert that the team is NOT actively shopping him, nor is Staios even thinking that way, given that what consistent scoring they get from the RW position begins and ends with Batherson.
Now, it appears, the queries continue from other teams who are wondering if Staios might reconsider around draft time. And again, Garrioch suggests they should tread very carefully.
I can understand why teams might covet someone like Batherson, a physical 6′ 3″ 200 lb RW who has played 391 games with 116g 177a 293 pts, for 82-game averages of 24g 37a 61 pts while costing just $4,975,000 off the cap for the next 2 seasons.
But while it costs nothing to listen to offers, they’d have to be out of the ball park before Staios would even think of moving him. And I don’t really see that happening.
In fact, this summer, I can see the GM making a move or two (trade – UFA signing – but no offer sheet initiative) to shore up the RW position among the bottom 6 as well as the RD depth.
Another means to that end is to move Cozens to RW on the 1st line with Tkachuk and C Tim Stutzle, Batherson to the 2nd line with Pinto at C and Zetterlund at LW, and a 3rd line of Perron (LW), Greig (C) and a re-signed Giroux at RW.
The 4th line could be Cousins at LW, Amadio at RW and either a newcomer through trade/free agency at C or a re-signed Adam Gaudette.
But that bit of armchair GMing aside, I’m sure things are in good hands with Staios and his crew. Be interesting to see how it all unfolds.
LMAO with O’Leary thinks Panthers contenders signing Mitch Marner! Last season Panthers won Stanley Cup! This year Panthers defeated Maple Leafs winning both games Game 5 and Game 7 at Toronto 6 – 1 each! So far Panthers up 2 – 0 vs Hurricanes! Panthers highest paid forward makes 10 million per season. Whereas, Marner ALL ABOUT THE MONEY wants 13 to 14 million per season! Marner soft winger, who isn’t top goal scorer, whio often disappears. In the playoffs, why would Panthers want Marner?
Some might wonder if Marner has truly ever played for a contender before.
In terms of Carolina, I’ve never been sold on Anderson in goal and I’ve never liked the way BrindAmour hands out ice time. (Last night’s game is a perfect example; desparate for goals to spark a comeback, he still cycled the 4th liners as much as the top line.) Could that have had anything to do with Rantanen leaving????
Going to a rising team like Utah, Detroit, or Buffalo probably turns them into perennial contenders.
And a place like LA might actually give him his best chance at going deep in the playoffs.
Carolina whiffed on the Rantanen,Necas trade,when they realized Rantanen didn t want to stay in Carolina.Couldn t get Toronto to bite on a trade for Marner or Knies.
Sr, the Hurricanes contacted the Leafs offering Rantanen straight up for Marner. Leafs management told Marner that their priority was to sign him, but if he didn’t want to stay, they had the offer on the table to go to Carolina. Marner declined to waive his NMC, and the deal fell through.
Lyle,so Carolina and Toronto both lost.Marner hoping for I m sure a long playoff run and Carolina get Stankoven a small,undersized player and draft picks.
Sr, my response was regarding your claim that the Hurricanes tried to ship Rantanen to Toronto but the Leafs wouldn’t bite. I was pointing out that wasn’t the case, it was Marner refusing to waive his NMC.
As a Bruin fan I would love to see Rod the Bod as our coach. He has never had the horses to win but always gets the most out of his players. Florida right now just looks too big and strong for most of their competition losing Reinhardt for any length of time could slow the roll. I could see Marner landing in Vegas or LA but in my opinion it would need to be 10 max.
Although I have no doubt there will be many teams lined up to make an offer on Marner, some of these are quite a stretch
Colorado- they dealt Rantanen because they didn’t want to be top heavy and in light of Makars upcoming deal- so they walked at 12.5 on Rantanen but see Marner’s lack of playoff success and want to pay him more? Yeah don’t see it.
Pittsburgh?- no cap room AND more importantly why would Marner go there? Crosby has only a couple years left
Washington? See Pittsburgh
Carolina- they offered Rantanen for Marner because they knew Rantanen wasn’t signing and would take a shot getting marner locked up, they are frugal and I doubt again, they see their playoff struggles and Marner’s and think – yeah he is the piece to get us over the playoff hump
Kings- definite interest but they would be paying him almost double their next highest paid forward
Anaheim- for sure he no doubt helps them during the regular season
Utah- for sure- make a splash in a new market
Vegas- always but don’t see them getting to 13 plus
San Jose and Chicago will be interesting because Marner would help immensely, trouble is they would find themselves in the same spot the Leafs were in when they signed tavares. You sign Marner to 13 or more- then what do you pay Celebrini and Bedard…
Interesting – he will get paid no doubt
Great point on Colorado. No way they got rid of Rantanen because of his pending big contract renewal only to turn around and give even more to Marner.
The Penguins have over 21 million on CAP space. Not that that means they want Marner (maybe they do, I don’t work for them), or would land him if they did, but they have the room to do so. Why would Marner go there? I believe he, Crosby, and MacKinnon all train together in the off-season, and are friends. Again, not saying he wants to go there, but that and the obvious Dubas connection might be enough to persuade him if he were so inclined. That might even be “why” he would want to go there. In any event, you can still continue to be a biased jaded Leafs fan. Marner’s departure might even help that fester a little more. Carry on.
As a biased jaded Leaf fan- looking for some outside opinion. If Morgan Rielly was actually open to lifting his NMC -would there be teams interested at his full salary? Would the Leafs get an asset back?
Yes, and yes.
He doesn’t deserve the heat he gets in Hogtown.
Muffin shot aside, he earns his pay and it would be a mistake to move him unless you could get a similar player who happens to be younger.
I agree Shoreorrpark. They better be careful there or they could wind up with Larry Murphy Part Deux
2 cups with Pittsburgh before they peddled him to Toronto, where they boo’d him out of town before winning 2 more cups in Detroit on his way to the Hockey Hall Of Fame.
2422 and George,
It’s a different league now, young , talented mobile Dare all over the league in all sizes mostly shooting L not to mention they keep on coming.
Rule of nature applied to hockey is that the legs are the first thing to go so a mobile d between the age 31-36 will have a big fall off.
A stay at home D with a heavy point shot has better odds of performing late into the career.
A better comparable than Murphy in the 90’s is Petry in the 2020’s, mobile D who played well till 32-33 then fell off the cliff.
Too often we forget that the difference in making it or not at this level (NHL) is fractions of a second and time takes its toll.
Wait till he gets to play a full year with Carlo. They were Toronto`s best paring at the end of the reg season. Having Carlo as a partner made a big difference
Rielly is a good, smart, all around D man. He does everything better than most, but not great at any one specific skill. not small 6’1″ & 225. Built like Bourque, just not as good.
He has value, his contract isn’t crazy. Would leave a hole if he was traded. So replace him with who?
Sam,
Rielly’s salary isn’t the problem it’s the term on his contract, at 31y/o 5 more years is a lot for a mobile D not a stay at home guy.
He’s a LD which in current times is low demand compared to a few years ago, RD is in vogue now.
yeah I here you. For me though it’s the fact that he is an offensive d man that can’t run a powerplay- he is a tweener. I have just heard every side on his value. Paying til 36 is the norm it seems
George- very true
Murphy was miscast in Toronto- the fact that players go onto success somewhere else shouldnt be a reason for them not to be moved. Happens all the time, bad mix, bad fit, comfort level. It just gets magnified in Toronto. Sabres get ripped for giving up on Ryan Oreilly but so did the Avs lol, situation wasnt meant to be.
I like Reilly , I just think something has to change bc Im in the minority but I dont think Marner ends up leaving. Not a Marner fan at all (highly over rated and its just my opinion lol!) however I do think he does some soul searching and ends up staying. That leaves Rielly to move . Was just curious of non leaf fan perspective
I wonder if teams will be willing to sell low on higher priced players with one or two years left on deals this summer with the potential crop of UFAS in 2026 being what it is ..I know they don’t normally get to UFAs but I think the rise of the cap is going to change that ..
McDavid, Eichel Kaprizov Makar Panarin Bobrosvksy Panarin Connor Kopitar Kempe just to name a few UFAs
I wouldn’t be surprised if Marner resigns with Leafs similar to what Stamkos did when he went UFA way back but don’t think they will pay 13 million for him to stay
Mr Bruin- much to my dismay – I agree with you. He cant get more but not from a contender and ultimately he will end up being villified at home
Toronto`s started talking to Knies, Tavares and Lorentz, no word on Marner. Marner`s present contract was a gong show and wasn`t signed until the day before training camp, so one can`t rule out him resigning
He did not have many options back then though. Being a UFA now, he does.
If it is all about money with Richie Mitch then he will lean towards a tax free state
That would bring Seattle into the equation. I doubt either team in Florida can make the money work.
Haula and Palat to TML for picks?
Then sign Marner to play with Hughes?
Marner is a great player in the right system, doh, nothing new in that comment of mine.
I point it out only in thinking of teams that would be interested in him and I see Florida and Carolina preferring har forechecking net front forwards which isn’t his jam.
Utah would be a good fit as a young team lpaded with talent, good coach and GM, tons of cap space. and are primed to make a jump in standings next year.
No pressure and he’d be able to enjoy the game with smooth not clenched hands.
Fair points on FLA and CAR HF30.
Still think Carolina might take a long look though. You’re right they sure like forechecking forwards who drive the net. It’s what they do, check hard, shoot from everywhere, and drive the net.
So in theory they’re already good at that and have lots of guys who do that already. They made the move on Rantanen, so maybe they are looking for an elite offensive guy?
Or maybe they just wanted a large and talented elite offensive guy who goes to the net.
I can see Utah being interested, but also have Cooley and Guenther who will get significant raises after next season and I would predict both of those guys to get close to a point per game player, or better, plus Iginla will be there in a year or 2. If I was Utah I lock both those guys long term. I would be trying this off season. They should be solid up front when you include Keller as well.
They may want to focus their resources on the blue line, it’s only “OK” after Sergachev. They could use another higher end guy.
Not sure where he ends up, but somebody will pay him, maybe for less than what is being predicted though. But I have said that plenty of times and been wrong.