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Insider Shares 'Plausible' Mitch Marner Move for Maple Leafs Before Free Agency

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 31, 2025 9:07 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to prioritize re-signing captain John Tavares over Mitch Marner this offseason.

NHL insider David Pagnotta is reporting a growing likelihood that Marner will head to free agency on July 1, but the analyst presented an interesting and not-so-discussed scenario.

In a May 30 article for The Fourth Period, Pagnotta outlined Toronto’s situation with both veteran forwards and offered insight into the club’s internal planning.

"An extension for Tavares is much more likely than one with Marner at this point in time," Pagnotta wrote. "All indications are Marner is heading to free agency.

"He hasn’t closed the door on a return to Toronto, but he wants to evaluate his options."

Let's get nuts! Silly Szn has returned. Here's my latest on the chatter that is just about to pick up:
- Sabres activity
- VAN & Petey, Demko
- Boeser ready to move on
- Vegas shopping Hague?
- Marner hoopla
- 4th OV in play?
- NYI, NYR, BOS
+ lots more https://t.co/rLHiP23822
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) May 30, 2025

Tavares, who signed a seven-year, $77 million contract in 2018, has repeatedly expressed his desire to stay with the team.

Although the Leafs are expected to offer Tavares a lower-money contract, talks are expected to progress soon

Meanwhile, Pagnotta said Marner’s list of preferred destinations has narrowed to a few teams, mostly in the Western Conference, with the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights among those mentioned.

"Do I believe they don’t have an idea where they stand with Mitch Marner and John Tavares? Absolutely not," Pagnotta wrote. "But I get where [Treliving] is coming from."

The most interesting scenario shared by Pagnotta, however, has to do with the possibility of Toronto completing some sort of sign-and-trade deal, which is considered unlikely, or a scenario in which the Maple Leafs could opt to trade Marner’s negotiating rights for a draft pick before July 1.

"Could the Leafs trade his rights for a draft pick to give a team a headstart in contract negotiations?" Pagnotta wondered. "That seems more plausible."

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

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