Love him or hate him, Mitch Marner has been a pivotal piece of the Toronto Maple Leafs since he was drafted in 2015. Before the playoff heartbreak, before the boos from Leafs fans, before the trade rumors, there was just a boy from Markham, Ontario, getting selected by his childhood team and growing into an important playmaker and reliable point scorer, racking up 90+ points several times, with a personal best of 102 points in 2024-25. He was supposed to be a one-club man, many will say. But with the Leafs’ premature exit from the playoffs this year comes (almost unbelievably) the end of the Mitch Marner era.

Marner’s playoff performance in 2025 was quite different from how he played during the regular season. He only got one assist in the last four games of Toronto’s second-round series, and it was tough to watch him go pointless in that 6-1 Game 7 loss. He was also spotted shouting, “Wake the f*** up!” from the bench during the game. The disappointing performance, along with what many perceived to be a lack of enthusiasm, sparked a lot of criticism from both fans and the media. It even led to boos and jerseys and beer being thrown onto the ice.

With that as the backdrop, Marner’s team supposedly has ended all communication with the Maple Leafs. “The Maple Leafs have tried to talk to Marner,” Friedman said. “Marner’s camp has not engaged with them. And I think everyone knows the way this is going to be headed, that on July 1st, he’s going to go out there, he’s going to hit the market, he’s going to pick a team, he’s going to set a contract, and he’s not coming back to Toronto.”

With Marner set to hit free agency this summer, rumors of an exit from Toronto have been swirling for weeks, but now it looks like there was some truth to them after all. Just weeks after Toronto got knocked out, one team has emerged as a frontrunner in the Mitch Marner race. On X, NHL Rumour Report shared: “David Pagnotta: The Hurricanes offer to Mitch Marner could be over $14m per – The Fourth Period.” It looks like the Carolina Hurricanes are gearing up to make a big move for Marner in free agency.

That number would not just set new salary records for non-centers, but it would also position Marner as one of the highest-paid forwards in NHL history, even surpassing Leon Draisaitl’s $14 million AAV. So, it looks like there’s an offer on the table, and it’s happening at a time when there’s plenty of cap space and a lot of teams are interested in acquiring Marner’s services. Because the Canes aren’t the only player in this sweepstake.

Mitch Marner might be a good fit for this NHL franchise

The Florida Panthers are reportedly very interested in Mitch Marner, who is about to hit free agency, according to NHL Insider Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, who said, “There’s real smoke that the Florida Panthers could be gearing up to make a run at Marner. The Panthers, for their credit, are known for their aggressive swings. And this would certainly fall under that category. In this world, you’d have to imagine that Sam Bennett would not be retained and Anton Lundell would be elevated to the second-line center role. Marner moves out of the pressure cooker of Toronto to the sunny disposition of Florida with its tax-free status, immaculate vibes, and constant Cup contention.”

From Florida’s perspective, Marner brings exceptional playmaking abilities and knows how to handle high-pressure situations really well. Additionally, he brings along the benefits of a non-taxable environment and less media buzz — things that appeal to both the player and the team.

It seems like a lot of fans are curious about whether the Panthers will hold onto veteran Sam Bennett if they decide to pursue Marner. This might create some opportunities for younger players, like Anton Lundell, to take on a bigger role. Leaving the Maple Leafs would definitely be a big blow for Marner, but he’s still focused on that Stanley Cup dream, maybe even with a growing American hockey team.