Mitch Marner Reportedly Linked to Ducks, Contract Could Top $14M AAV in NHL FA

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner could head to the West Coast for the next stage of his professional career.

James Mirtle of The Athletic reported that the Anaheim Ducks could be a contender to sign Marner in unrestricted free agency. The team will enter with more than $25 million in cap space and could be poised to give Marner a significant deal.

"Some of the chatter is that they’ll potentially be the high bidder for Mitch Marner, with an unheard-of average annual value north of the $14 million that the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl currently makes as the NHL’s highest-paid player," Mirtle wrote.

Marner is coming off a season in which he scored 27 goals and had a career-high 102 points in 81 games. His efforts helped lead the Maple Leafs to an Atlantic Division title.

Toronto's season came to an end in the second round at the hands of the Florida Panthers. Marner had 13 points in 13 playoff games but notably had just a single goal in the series against the Panthers. The loss continued a trend of early postseason exits for the Maple Leafs that extends back to 2002-03.

Toronto has not reached a conference final since the 2001-02 campaign and has not reached the Stanley Cup Final since 1967. The core built around Marner and forwards Auston Matthews and John Tavares looked like it could end this trend, but it instead has been filled with playoff disappointment.

The Maple Leafs could look to bring back Marner, but they may not be able to match the value a team like Anaheim could offer. The Ducks' cap space and developing young core could be an excellent fit for the 28-year-old as he could be joining just as the team is ready to push for the postseason. If he were to sign a deal for $14 million, he would tie Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl for the highest-paid player in the league.

Anaheim went 35-37-10 in 2024-25 and missed the postseason for the seventh straight season. Despite finishing under .500, it was still an eight-win improvement from the previous season, and players like center Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier all hit the 20-goal mark for the first time.

Bringing in Marner would solidify the Ducks' status as a team on the rise and could also give him a fresh start as he looks to build off his best statistical season.