Hurricanes reportedly preparing seismic offer for Mitch Marner

NHL free agency is still 18 days away, but the Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly preparing a seismic offer in an attempt to sign Mitch Marner.

David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that the Hurricanes are expected to offer Marner a seven-year contract worth more than $14 million annually. Carolina is widely expected to take a major swing this offseason, and Marner is widely considered the best available free agent this summer.

It was previously reported that the Hurricanes approached the Toronto Maple Leafs about a trade involving Marner and Mikko Rantanen. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving asked Marner if he’d waive his no-trade clause before the trade deadline, and he declined to do so. Rantanen promptly signed an eight-year extension worth $12 million annually upon being traded to the Dallas Stars.

Carolina, Vegas and Toronto also reportedly discussed a three-team trade involving Marner, but it didn’t get past preliminary talks.

Marner is expected to command interest from the Golden Knights, Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings and Utah Mammoth among several suitors. The 28-year-old is coming off a 102-point season, during which he was arguably the Maple Leafs’ regular-season MVP, before a disappointing performance against the Florida Panthers in the second round of the playoffs effectively ended his tenure with the Maple Leafs. While a return to Toronto hasn’t been formally ruled out, Marner is widely expected to sign elsewhere this summer.

“I think like everyone, saddened, devastated in a way, yeah, I mean it’s not easy,” Marner said on May 20 during the Leafs’ end-of-year media availabilities. “It’s hard. I’ve love being here, I’m so grateful, but I haven’t talked to my family yet. It’s still so fresh.”

If Marner’s goal was to receive the largest contract possible, it appears there will be a hefty bidding war for his services on July 1. He is an elite playmaker who excels on the penalty kill and would almost certainly benefit from a change of environment.