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Tag: Mitch Marner

  • Bruins Division Rival Set to Lose Star Winger in Free Agency

    Bruins Division Rival Set to Lose Star Winger in Free Agency

    The NHL offseason hasn’t started yet, but the drama is already heating up — especially for the Boston Bruins’ division rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

    Reports are saying that star winger Mitch Marner is going to play for a new team next season. According to NHL insider Andy Strickland, “He’s going to play for a new team next season.” That alone sends shockwaves through the league.

    Marner’s departure from Toronto would not only reshape the Maple Leafs’ roster but also open the door for one of the most surprising twists in recent memory: a possible reunion between Toronto and Brad Marchand, the longtime Boston Bruins captain.

    Why Toronto Would Let Go of Mitch Marner?

    Marner has been the heart and soul of the Maple Leafs for years, but things are reaching a breaking point. His contract demands — reportedly in the $12 million to $14 million AAV range — are becoming harder to justify under Toronto’s current cap structure.

    Let him go, and they’ll free up a lot of cap space and can pivot to other options, including a big veteran move that could change the narrative for a team that’s desperate to break their playoff curse.

    If Marner goes west — as many think he will — Toronto will need a top line replacement fast.

    Elliotte Friedman Hints at Marchand’s Role

    On 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman added fuel to the fire:

    “If Marner goes, they’ll need to fill that spot — don’t be surprised if they go after Marchand hard.”

    That’s more than just speculation — it’s a sign of how the Maple Leafs are approaching this offseason.

    Marchand, who just helped the Florida Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final, has proven he still has plenty left in the tank. At 36, he’s not fading — and now with the Bruins unlikely to match any offer above $8 million AAV, Toronto might be the perfect landing spot.

    Could Marchand Wear a Maple Leafs Jersey?

    It sounds crazy — and that’s exactly what makes it so good.

    Once a hated rival and fan target in Toronto, Marchand has earned a new level of respect after years of playoff success and competitiveness. Signing him wouldn’t just be about filling a scoring void — it would be about bringing in a winner. He’s got leadership, physicality, and can perform in big moments. The Leafs have been missing all three when it counts.

    And fans may not want to see their former enemy in the blue and white but many are coming around — if it means they finally get over the hump.

  • Why the Boston Bruins Should Avoid Signing That 100-Point Free Agent?

    Why the Boston Bruins Should Avoid Signing That 100-Point Free Agent?

    As July 1 approaches, the Boston Bruins find themselves in a familiar position: cap space to spend, needs to fill, and big names on the market. Among them is Mitch Marner, fresh off his first 100-point season and expected to be one of the most sought-after forwards in free agency.

    But just because he’s available doesn’t mean the Bruins should go all-in.

    While Marner dazzles with regular-season production, concerns about his playoff performance—and Boston’s past mistakes—should give fans and management pause.

    Marner’s Regular Season Brilliance vs. Playoff Questions

    Let’s get one thing straight—Mitch Marner can flat-out play.

    Over the last eight seasons, he’s been among the league’s elite offensive talents. Last year, he hit a career-high 27 goals and 75 assists, earning his first 100-point campaign. His vision, puck-handling, and playmaking are top-tier.

    But when the games matter most, the story changes.

    In 13 playoff games this past season, Marner scored just two goals. Sure, he added 11 assists, but timing and impact matter in the postseason. And this isn’t the first time his production has dipped when the pressure’s on.

    Toronto’s early exits have often come with questions aimed at Marner’s ability to carry a team through deep playoff runs. For a Bruins squad looking to make real noise, that inconsistency is a red flag.

    Boston Already Paid the Price for Flash Over Fit

    The Bruins tried this before.

    Last summer, they committed significant cap space to Elias Lindholm, hoping he’d become the second-line center they desperately needed. The move was supposed to elevate their depth and provide scoring balance.

    It didn’t work out.

    Lindholm struggled to find chemistry, underperformed expectations, and ultimately became a trade chip. The Bruins wasted precious cap room and momentum chasing a name instead of building strategically.

    Now, with another high-profile forward on the market, Boston risks repeating history—only this time, the price could be even steeper.

    The Cost Isn’t Just Financial – It’s Opportunity Lost

    Mitch Marner is expected to command a contract worth between $13–14 million annually. With around $28 million in cap space, that kind of deal would eat up nearly half of Boston’s budget.

    For one player.

    That’s not just expensive—it’s limiting.

    What about re-signing internal free agents? What about filling holes on defense or adding depth scoring? Locking into a long-term, high-dollar deal for a player whose playoff track record is shaky could derail the entire rebuild plan.

    This team doesn’t need a flashy headline. It needs structure, depth, and smart investments.

    There Are Better Ways to Build a Winner

    The Bruins don’t need another marquee name. They need pieces that fit.

    Marner might thrive elsewhere—maybe a change of scenery reignites his fire. But Boston shouldn’t be the team rolling the dice on that possibility.

    Instead, GM Don Sweeney should focus on affordable, impactful additions that support the core already in place. Maybe target role players, defensive upgrades, or younger talent ready to step up.

    Winning in the NHL isn’t about who has the flashiest roster—it’s about who builds the strongest foundation.

    And for the Bruins, that means resisting temptation—even if it wears a 100-point stat line.

    Final Call: Stay Smart, Stay Balanced

    Mitch Marner is a great player. No doubt about it.

    But greatness doesn’t always translate to playoff success, especially when the stakes are highest. And for a Bruins team still finding its footing after a rocky season, now isn’t the time to gamble again.

    They’ve learned the hard way what happens when you chase headlines instead of hockey sense.

    Let someone else sign the 100-point star.

    The Bruins should focus on building something better, not bigger.

  • Mitch Marner Targeted by Bruins? Maple Leafs Insider Says It’s Possible

    Mitch Marner Targeted by Bruins? Maple Leafs Insider Says It’s Possible

    The Boston Bruins have plenty of work to do this offseason when it comes to righting the wrongs rooted in a miserable 2024-25 season. With more than $26 million in cap space, could the team allocate most of that spending power toward the top free agent on the market: Toronto star Mitch Marner?

    As jarring as it would be to see Marner don a black-and-gold sweater after years spent battling Boston in the postseason, Maple Leafs writer James Mirtle isn’t discounting the Bruins as a viable contender for Marner’s services this summer.

    In a ranking of Marner’s 32 possible destinations, Mirtle tabbed the Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, Utah, and Vegas as the “most likely fits” in the pursuit of Marner.

    But after those four, Mirtle also listed the Boston Bruins among the teams in the next tier vying for the winger, alongside the Ducks, Blackhawks, Avalanche, Blue Jackets, Red Wings, Panthers, Predators, Sharks, and Lightning.

    “It was certainly a lost season in Boston this year, but do they try and pull a Capitals and retool quickly? Between David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman, they have a lot of strong pieces in place, so scorched earth doesn’t seem like the way to go,” Mirtle wrote.

    “It would be a bit of a heel turn for Marner, given they’re such a big rival in the division, but I don’t think we can rule it out entirely just on that basis. They certainly have the cap room after their big sell-off before the deadline.”

    A 2% Chance for Marner to Stay with the Leafs

    Mirtle tabbed Marner returning to the Maple Leafs as a “2 percent chance” of happening this summer. The winger is set to command one of the heftiest contracts in NHL history if he goes to market, and his inability to put the Maple Leafs over the top in the postseason might frighten some teams — and fanbases — from investing heavily in the forward.

    But, there are a few instances where a superstar in his prime, like Marner (who turned 28 in May), is up for grabs for whichever team is willing to pony up the cash.

    Marner Could Be the Missing Piece

    If Marner was interested in joining the Bruins, he’d serve as a much-needed remedy for a team in desperate need of skill and scoring punch.

    Much like how David Pastrnak was driving his line alongside Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie in 2024-25, a fellow right wing in Marner could anchor his top-six line in Boston — even if his supporting cast (Pavel Zacha? Casey Mittelstadt?) might be a work in progress on a retooling Bruins roster.

    Amid all the negative labels that Marner might carry as a smaller, skilled player whose playoff credentials might not pop, he’d address several needs for the Bruins.

    What Marner Brings to the Table?

    Marner — who has four 90-plus point seasons on his resume — posted a career-high 102 points this season with Toronto, and is one of the better playmakers on the power play in recent years (33 points on the man advantage last season).

    The 6-foot winger is also a weapon on the penalty kill and outside of the offensive zone, as he paced all Toronto forwards in average shorthanded ice time (2:14) this past year while leading all NHL forwards in takeaways (56).

    A Strategic Investment or a Risky Move?

    While the Bruins could be better served turning what could be a $12–15 million a year annual payout to Marner into 2–3 other players, the idea of adding another franchise fixture to the lineup is tempting.

    With the offseason still early, fans are already speculating about what the Bruins’ future looks like — and if Marner is truly in play, it could be the biggest move of the summer.

    Whether it happens or not, one thing is clear: the Bruins are looking to make a splash in free agency, and Marner is at the top of the list.