Western Conference Playoff Team Connected to Mitch Marner by Top NHL Journalist
Photo credit: Toronto Star
Mitch Marner's future in Toronto is up in the air, and according to The Athletic, he may have the perfect fit awaiting him in the Western Conference in the St. Louis Blues.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are once again rolling into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but this season there's extra pressure on the team, as a poor performance could lead to the departure of one of their biggest stars.
That would be star forward Mitch Marner, who will be the biggest free agent available in the summer, and while many believe he could return to Toronto, there will certainly be some massive offers out there for the star forward.
If he does leave, The Athletic have identified a great fit for the veteran forward, with Jeremy Rutherford linking No. 16 to the red-hot St. Louis Blues, who all of a sudden have one of the more impressive teams in the West.
"Marner would be an incredible fit for the Blues. He'd have to change his number because No. 16 is in the rafters at Enterprise Center, but as I've written before, Marner playing alongside Thomas, his old junior teammate, might lead to some magic like back in the day with Brett Hull.
However, Rutherford does admit that it won't come cheap, as many believe that his new deal could go as high as $14 million per season, but if the Blues believe he takes them over the top, this would be a solid addition.
The issue is Marner is going to get paid. He will be the premier UFA this offseason if unsigned by the Leafs, and the cost could be $14 million AAV. Could the Blues afford the winger, who turns 28 in May? He'd be quite the addition, but it takes two parties. If he's somehow interested, they would have to be."
It's unclear however if Marner would see the Blues as a long-term landing spot, but with the likes of Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou and Dylan Holloway leading the way, if he wants to join a team with a very bright future, than the Blues might be the best option for Marner.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 11 | 187 ANSWERS Western Conference Playoff Team Connected to Mitch Marner by Top NHL Journalist Will Mitch Marner leave the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer? | ||
| Yes | 129 | 69 % |
| No | 58 | 31 % |
| List of polls | ||
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