Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Surprising contender emerges in battle for Mitch Marner, per Elliotte Friedman

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 4:15 PM ET

Mitch Marner's future in the NHL could dictate many things in free agency this summer, and now, it appears a shocking team has emerged as a contender to land him.

The Toronto Maple Leafs appear ready to lose Mitch Marner in free agency this summer, and before free agency officially opens, we've had plenty of reports around the superstar forward.

It seems as though almost every team with cap space could be in on No. 16.

Now, insider Elliotte Friedman has dropped a bombshell, revealing that the Utah Mammoth, after just one season in the NHL are ready to make a splash and land the superstar forward.

"If there is one team everyone is watching and saying I'm really curious to see what they do it is Utah. Teams believe that Utah is determined to introduce themselves to the NHL in a big way."

With a young core led by captain Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley, Marner is exactly the type of player who would be a perfect fit for the Utah Mammoth. With the salary cap to land him, they could put in one of the biggest offers for him.

On top of that, they are open to moving the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, suggesting this is a team that wants to make a genuine impact in 2025-26. While they may or may not land Marner, expect them to be in the bidding all the way until the end.

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

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