‘Dog and Pony Show': Mitch Marner's Agent Was Hoping for Free Agency Bidding War Before Being Shut Down

Mitch Marner landed in Vegas this off-season, and while it may have been his preferred spot, we now know his agent was hoping for a major bidding war.

Since failing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs again with the Maple Leafs, things haven't gone right with Mitch Marner, and the interview he recently did to call out fans for his safety hasn't gone down well either.

This is part of an off-season that's been a PR nightmare for Marner, but with the star winger now in Vegas, there's optimism from player and agent that he can have a very successful second half of his career.

Why Marner's Cutthroat Agent Wanted the Full Free Agency Circus

From the moment the off-season began, almost everyone in the NHL knew that Mitch Marner was headed to the Golden Knights, but according to a recent report, that's not the way his agent wanted it.

'I wanted that to go to free agency and do the whole dog and pony show, but he didn't want to do it. I was all set to do it, but we did end up getting a result that he's happy with.'

According to Darren Ferris in a recent interview, he wanted to test free agency to the fullest and get the best deal for Marner, but the talented winger wanted one team and didn't want to deal with being courted by other teams around the league.

Security, Scrutiny, and Vegas: Why Marner Shut Down Ferris' Plan

For the most part, the reason behind this decision from Marner was due to the fact that he was getting everything he wanted from Vegas, and as a result, didn't feel it was necessary to go through everything involved with being the NHL's top free agent.

'He heard directly from other players about Vegas and how they treat the players and their families too. And once he knew that, his mind was made up at the end of the season. From my perspective as an agent, I would have preferred him to go through the full process, sit down with multiple teams, and explore every option. But for him, it was clear he didn't want to go through that 'dog and pony show' or go to free agency when he already knew where he wanted to be. Safety for his family and being in the right environment mattered most. My job at that point was simply to support his decision and help him get there. At the end of the day, his focus is now entirely on what's ahead, and he believes Vegas is the right place for him. His energy is on helping that team win'

Ultimately, this was the best move for Marner, as he lands on a cut-throat team that expects to compete for Stanley Cups, and with the money and the term he wanted, this was the best possible outcome.