John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Two Canadian Teams Emerge as Serious Suitors for Mitch Marner in Potential Blockbuster

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 6:17 PM ET

Mitch Marner's free agency is expected to have many teams interested, and now, both Calgary and Montreal are emerging as teams with significant interest, although that interest may be completely one-sided.

NHL free agency this off-season is set to be chaos, and with Mitch Marner being the biggest name available, it's expected that he'll field significant offers from almost every team in the NHL.

While he originally ruled out every Canadian team if he decided to leave Toronto, that doesn't mean teams won't be trying to land him, as David Pagnotta has revealed another layer to the Marner free agency story.

According to Pagnotta, both the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens are expected to heavily pursue Marner, with both potentially set to offer him deals north of $13 million per season.

Unfortunately for Craig Conroy and Kent Hughes, the interest may not be mutual, as Marner has dealt with the pressures and the scrutiny of a Canadian market for years now, and unsurprisingly, it's potentially not something he wants to deal with again.

Sure, other Canadian teams don't have it quite as bad from the media and the fanbase as Toronto, but with Marner being linked to teams like Vegas, Los Angeles and Anaheim, it's safe to say that he'd love a life of anonymity away from the ice if that is possible.

At this point in time, it's highly likely that Marner looks to head to America for his next team, with upwards of eight teams being listed as potential landing spots for the 100-point forward, but if the offer is right and the team are convincing enough, we could be surprised by the superstar forwards decision.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: