NHL free agency is in two weeks, and it appears that Mitch Marner will likely test the market on July 1.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on the 32 Thoughts podcast that Marner’s camp is not engaging in contract negotiations with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“The Maple Leafs have tried to talk to Marner,” Friedman said. “Marner’s camp is not engaged with them.
“I think everybody knows the way this is going to be heading, that on July 1, he’s going to go out there, he’s going to hit the market,” he added.
This situation suggests that Marner could potentially challenge Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl’s $14-million cap hit for the highest in the NHL next season and be among UFAs who signed for the biggest average annual values to switch teams.
There are a few players who have signed monstrous contracts on the opening day of free agency in the past decade. Here’s who Marner could join on that list.
Artemi Panarin, LW, New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin became the NHL’s highest-paid winger per year on July 1, 2019. The New York Rangers signed the Russian to a seven-year deal worth $81.5 million for an $11.64-million cap hit. The 33-year-old’s contract expires after 2025-26.
Ever since Panarin joined the Rangers, he’s excelled. In 2023-24, the left winger scored a career-high 49 goals and 120 points. He was four points shy of breaking Jaromir Jagr’s franchise record for most points in a season, set in 2005-06 with 123. Even though he recorded 31 fewer points this season, his 89 in 80 matches still exceeded a point-per-game average.
With Panarin’s offensive prowess, the Blueshirts advanced to two Eastern Conference finals. They lost both series in six games to the Florida Panthers in 2024 and the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022.
John Tavares, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
When Tavares signed a seven-year contract worth $77 million with the Maple Leafs on July 1, 2018, his new $11-million cap hit became the second-highest in the NHL. The center could have had the highest cap hit then, with TSN’s Darren Dreger reporting that other teams offered $13 million per season.
Nonetheless, he picked his hometown team and has been the focal point of some big moments in Toronto. In his first season with the Leafs, he recorded a career-high 47 goals and 88 points. He also helped the Leafs get over their first-round playoff hump, scoring the overtime-winner of Game 6 against Tampa Bay in 2023 to advance to the second round.
Like his teammate Marner, Tavares becomes a UFA on July 1 unless he signs with his team beforehand.
Tax Court Pauses Canada Revenue Agency’s $8M Case Against John Tavares In Likely Win For Maple Leafs StarJohn Tavares picked up a major win in his tax dispute against the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on Friday. His appeal case in the Tax Court of Canada was adjourned after his team won their motion in court and was trying to set a trial date.
Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers
Sergei Bobrovsky was in the same free-agent class as Panarin in 2019, when they left the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky signed with Florida on a deal worth $10 million per season for seven years.
Only injured Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price had a higher cap hit for a goaltender than Bobrovsky this season. Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin will take first place when his new $11.5-million cap hit kicks in next season.
The two-time Vezina Trophy winner has had some ups and downs with the Panthers, but the brightest moments came in the playoffs. Over the past three post-seasons, Bobrovsky has registered a 43-21 record with a .911 save percentage and 2.44 goals-against average. With him between the pipes, the Panthers advanced to three straight Stanley Cup finals, winning it all last year and being one victory away from capturing the Cup again this year.
Bobrovsky will enter the final year of his contract next season.
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