Mitch Marner trade destinations: 8 NHL teams that could (or should) be interested

After another disappointing Round 1 exit, the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t seem content with running it back.

Just how bold is management willing to go? That’s the big question. Team president Brendan Shanahan said “everything is on the table” back in May — and “everything” could include shaking up their core.

Auston Matthews’ four-year deal is set to kick in on July 1, as is William Nylander’s eight-year extension. That shifts the attention to the core member who is a year away from unrestricted free agency: Mitch Marner.

The Maple Leafs can take a few paths with Marner, one of their leading wingers. They can officially extend the 2025 UFA in a week on July 1. They can maintain the status quo and go into the season with Marner without an extension, punting that decision down the road. Or they could explore trade possibilities this summer and go into the 2024-25 season with a clean slate.

There is no perfect answer. Extending him sooner than later would give the team more long-term cost certainty to build around, but the Leafs risk overcommitting to more of the same, which hasn’t worked for them yet.

Maintaining the status quo carries risks, too — the team could fail to find a trade partner mid-year (it may be a challenge with cap space in mind) or face the possibility of losing Marner to free agency. The latter is something general manager Brad Treliving dealt with recently in Calgary (see: Johnny Gaudreau), which ended up contributing to the Flames’ derailment.

Trades come with challenges, especially for the team moving out the best player in the deal. Treliving also has experience with that, going back to the Matthew Tkachuk deal. But a team can trade the bigger name player and make out just fine, too, like the Winnipeg Jets did when flipping Pierre-Luc Dubois.

If Toronto moves on from Marner, management has to find a transformative return that can help address areas of need — whether it’s defense, a goalie partner for Joseph Woll, supporting forwards who can add more sandpaper and size, or an up-and-coming top-six wing to replace the player moving out.

But as Treliving explained earlier this month to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the team isn’t looking to trade Marner for the sake of it. “If there’s a way to make our team better, we’re going to do it,” Treliving said. “But we’re certainly not going to make a trade just so we can pound our chest and say, ‘Look, we’re different.’”

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Elite players don’t grow on trees, so there should be league-wide interest if Marner ultimately becomes available via trade. But there is one more major hurdle in any trade scenario: his no-movement clause. Whether the Leafs actively search for a trade partner or are blown away by an offer, Marner has control over where he wants to land.

That likely would have been the case regardless of a no-movement clause. Considering the high price, an acquiring team likely wouldn’t want to invest in just one year of Marner. An extension (which could carry an average annual value as high as the $12 million range) would instead likely be part of the equation, requiring the player’s approval.

So if the Maple Leafs decide to break up their core and part ways with Marner, which teams should be interested?

Vegas Golden Knights

Whenever a big-name player is available on the trade or free-agent market, Vegas tends to circle the situation. In their short history, the Golden Knights have developed a reputation for being splashy in trades and ruthless in picking out cap casualties to balance everything out.

Right now, Vegas can’t afford Marner and his $10.9 million cap hit. But no worries there — management always finds a loophole to exploit or a salary to ditch, even when it means moving a solid player for nothing but cap space in return.

Marner makes a lot of sense for the Golden Knights, especially with Mark Stone’s health in mind. It’s easy to make jokes about their abusing LTIR with Stone specifically over the last two years, but the reality is that the forward has dealt with some serious injuries. Despite returning ready for Round 1 this postseason, he wasn’t at his usual levels of effectiveness.

So adding another Selke-caliber winger like Marner should intrigue the Golden Knights. As much as Vegas has bolstered a former area of weakness down the middle, their winger depth isn’t as strong as it once was — especially if Jonathan Marchessault walks as a free agent.

Vegas actually could be a dream trade partner for Toronto if it is willing to deal Shea Theodore as a part of the return. He is a top-pair caliber defenseman in the final year of his contract carrying a $5.2 million cap hit. Even with his next contract in mind, Toronto would gain some cap savings.

The Golden Knights probably don’t want to move Theodore, especially with Alex Pietrangelo’s age (34) in mind. But the Noah Hanifin extension may block management from being able to fit all three defenders under the cap.

Theodore plus draft picks, or maybe even Logan Thompson (who is also a year away from unrestricted free agency) for Marner, could be among the best trade scenarios for Toronto.

Carolina Hurricanes

If Jake Guentzel walks as a free agent, the Hurricanes will be right back on the market for a game-breaking winger. Marner isn’t a bona fide 40-plus-goal scorer like Guentzel, but the playmaking winger has either hit the 30-goal mark or scored at that pace in each of the last four seasons.

Marner’s star power would help elevate Carolina’s forward group, and the Hurricanes should have some pieces that would entice the Maple Leafs. Seth Jarvis would be a dream return but is unrealistic. Instead, Martin Necas would be a more plausible option as he makes a ton of sense for Toronto as a right-winger. If he proves he can shake it at center at the NHL level, maybe he could shift John Tavares to the wing to give the second line a new look.

Another player the Maple Leafs could try to inquire about is Andrei Svechnikov. The 24-year-old brings the size Toronto seems to be looking for and is under contract for five seasons at $7.75 million a year which would open up space for Marner’s contract. While Carolina probably isn’t looking to move him, the pressure is mounting for the team to go on a deeper playoff run, so perhaps the idea of changing the forward group’s makeup with Marner’s star power strikes some interest.

Nashville Predators

Marner may not want to take a step back from contending, in which case teams like Vegas and Carolina make sense. The reality is only so many bona fide playoff teams can afford the price of acquisition and his contract costs. So the landing spot may have to be an up-and-coming team that Marner’s star power can take to the next level.

That could make Nashville an interesting trade partner. The Predators could use some help on the right side of the lineup, and Marner could help drive a line opposite of Filip Forsberg to form an elite one-two punch. Marner’s puck-moving ability would give the team a real boost at even strength and he would kick the power play up a notch.

Luke Evangelista and Tommy Novak are up-and-coming forwards who could intrigue Toronto. Dante Fabbro could be a part of the conversation as the Maple Leafs could use another right-handed defenseman. The Predators also have a ton of draft picks to offer to bulk up a package.

That’s the more realistic path to take with the Predators.

Another would be to swing as big as possible and aim for Juuse Saros. Saros is a true No. 1 goaltender with one more year left on his contract. There’s a case for Nashville to move him with Yaroslav Askarov waiting in the wings, and that could gain some legs if extension talks go south. But the Predators don’t have to move Saros right now, either.

Would Marner be willing to waive his no-movement clause and take a leap out West into a new Utah market? (Dan Hamilton / USA Today)

Utah Hockey Club

Could Marner want to become one of the faces in a new Utah market?

Utah has a ton of cap space to spend and, unlike in years past, ownership that is willing to invest in the on-ice product. If the team wants to start shaking things up, Marner would be an ideal target, assuming he is willing to waive his no-movement clause and take a leap out West.

With Marner in the fold, Clayton Keller and everyone on the depth chart behind him would move down a slot into a more appropriate role. Utah would get an infusion of star power and playmaking, which the roster could use around its up-and-coming talent.

It all depends on what Utah is willing to part with, but a handful of players and assets could interest Toronto. There’s Lawson Crouse, who checks off the “size” box management seems to looking for; center Barrett Hayton and other young players like Dylan Guenther. Maybe Karel Vejmelka could share the crease with Woll, or some of Utah’s draft capital — including its next three first-rounders and a stock load of seconds and thirds — could round out a return.

Seattle Kraken

General manager Ron Francis doesn’t have a huge reputation for going after big, bold trades. He’s never signed a contract of the magnitude Marner is likely looking for, either. Could that change?

The Kraken need two things: star power and more offense. Marner helps with both. An extension should be manageable in 2025 when the Kraken will be ripe with cap space. Whether Seattle acts on that with a blockbuster trade depends on whether Francis departs from his patient, less flashy approach.

The Maple Leafs could be bold and ask for Shane Wright. Three years of entry-level service would make it all the more enticing for a team that needs as much financial flexibility as possible. Seattle, of course, could say no, envisioning a one-two punch of Wright and Matty Beniers.

Or maybe Toronto hones in on Seattle’s defense and draft picks (including No. 8 in 2024). Jamie Oleksiak and Adam Larsson could be two targets if their modified no-trade lists allow it. Will Borgen would add a righty that the Maple Leafs should be looking for. Without a game-changing piece in the return, though, Toronto may not be swayed.

Buffalo Sabres

Say Marner doesn’t want to completely uproot his life and move across the country. Maybe there’s a nearby option worth exploring in Buffalo, which needs a top-six playmaker.

Some teams won’t deal in division, especially when a star like Marner is involved. Who wants to make a competitor vying for the same playoff spots better, or face that player numerous times a year?

If Toronto’s management doesn’t subscribe to that line of thinking and is just focused on what the Sabres have to offer, maybe a deal is possible.

The Maple Leafs could push for Dylan Cozens, but if the Sabres deem him untouchable, there are other options to consider. If defensive-handedness isn’t the biggest concern (since Jake McCabe can slide over to the right), the Sabres have a glut of left-handed defensemen. Maybe someone like Mattias Samuelsson, a cost-controlled player who can be trusted in defensive minutes, would have value for Toronto. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who saved 22.4 goals above expected in 54 games, fits their needs in goal. Plus, the Sabres have picks and prospects that could be dealt to build up a return.

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are in the market for a top-six winger this offseason. Considering how many left-handed shooters they have, it wouldn’t hurt to find a righty like Marner.

Anaheim has the cap space to swing a deal for Marner and may have pieces that excite the Maple Leafs. John Gibson (especially with salary retained) could help boost Toronto’s goaltending situation. While his numbers have suffered in recent seasons, he would have a lot more defensive support away from Anaheim. Trevor Zegras could add some offensive creativity to the Maple Leafs’ second line. Or Toronto could look for a defenseman on the rise from Anaheim’s deep prospect pool.

The real complication is whether Marner would want to go to a team so far removed from the playoff mix. There’s a difference between a fringe playoff team that just needs a piece or two and a rebuilding club. Anaheim shows a promising future, but is that enough? And on the flip side, are they ready to add a difference-maker like Marner right now, or would that be too premature?

Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago faces similar questions to Anaheim.

The Blackhawks could offer some help on the blue line with a right-handed defender like Connor Murphy who is on a reasonable contract. Or maybe the Maple Leafs swing for a big name like Seth Jones, if Chicago’s willing to retain a chunk of his long-term deal.

Chicago has the cap space to extend Marner to a high number on his next contract, but should it be in the market for a player like that just yet?

And again, would Marner want to join a team that far out of the playoff mix? The idea of playing with Connor Bedard for years to come could be compelling, but Chicago is further outside the playoff picture than Anaheim right now and has a long way to go in their rebuild, even with Marner in the fold.

It doesn’t mean both sides shouldn’t explore their options. Toronto (and Marner) may find that it’s impossible to sign a long-term deal with a contender for cap reasons and have to look outside that bubble.

— Data via Evolving-Hockey, HockeyViz, CapFriendly and AllThreeZones

(Top photo: James Carey Lauder / USA Today)