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.