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Elliotte Friedman Reveals Mitch Marner's Rumored Free Agency Plan to Maximize Earnings

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 6:12 AM ET

Until now, the assumption around Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner's looming free agency was clear in what he was chasing in the open market.

The Maple Leafs forward, according to most reports, is widely expected to try and land a maximum-term, maximum-money contract when he hits the open market July 1.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, revealing this new information on Sunday's episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast, that may no longer be the case.

“Marner is the number one name on the market,” Friedman said. "There was a rumor going around this week that he might look at a four-year deal and then go for another one.”

32 Thoughts Game 5 reaction pod -- plus news, information & analysis.

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— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 15, 2025

Friedman said this plan is gaining traction around the league, and he's the first to report such a Marner mindset since the end of Toronto's season.

According to the insider, teams believe Marner may now pursue a shorter-term contract—something in the three-to-four-year range—instead of the full seven-year deal most expected.

The logic is financial and based on the NHL’s salary cap, which is projected to rise steeply in the next several years, allowing for bigger contracts each passing season.

Locking in now could limit Marner’s long-term earnings potential, which is something that he might be looking to maximize. On top of that, Friedman added that Marner’s camp has not been able to engage in contract talks with Toronto.

“The Maple Leafs have tried to talk to Marner," Friedman said. "Marner’s camp is not engaged with them.

"I think everybody knows the way this is going to be heading — that on July 1, he’s going to hit the market. Everything around him is news — it’s big news.”

The Maple Leafs drafted Marner with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft, and if he leaves Toronto, he'd do so with 741 points in 657 games over nine seasons.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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