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Penguins: the logical team for Mitch Marner no one is talking about
Félix Forget
Penguins: the logical team for Mitch Marner no one is talking about
Credit: Getty Images
Mitch Marner’s future is more uncertain than ever. The Maple Leafs forward, who will become a free agent in a few weeks’ time, was loudly booed by his fans last night.

And with the Maple Leafs accumulating playoff failures, the idea of shuffling the cage this summer is seriously under consideration.

So, inevitably, we’re wondering what’s in store for him. He has a big decision to make in the coming weeks, and the chances of him leaving Toronto seem (very) high.

There’s a lot of talk about the Mammoth, the Blackhawks and the Predators, but there’s one logical destination that’s flying under the radar: the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And according to The Fourth Period, you can expect the Penguins to be in the running. But more on that later.

What makes the Penguins such a logical destination? First of all, the club’s GM is a certain Kyle Dubas… who knew Mitch Marner (very) well in Toronto. There’s a lot of familiarity between the two, and Dubas is known to be a very (and sometimes overly) loyal guy.

That said, there’s another element to consider: the Penguins want to try and give Sidney Crosby one last shot at the Stanley Cup. Right now, the club is taking a step back… but adding Marner to the forward group would add considerable offensive punch alongside Crosby.

Marner would probably be the most talented winger Crosby has ever played with in Pittsburgh… and signing the biggest free agent on the market would send a strong message to the captain that the club still wants to win in the immediate future.

The Penguins will have roughly $23 million to spend next season, which means they’ll have the means to go after Crosby. And according to TFP, we can expect Marner to get at least $13 million a year on his next contract.

Other teams will have that kind of money… but how many are more desperate than the Penguins? Maybe the Blackhawks to back up Connor Bedard, but then again…

Obviously, Marner would have to be interested (and maybe signing with a team whose window is about to close won’t interest him), but in Pittsburgh, he’d be in an already much less intense environment. And if Crosby, with whom he played at the 4 Nations Confrontation, helps him navigate the media, there’s probably a way for Marner to do well with the Penguins.

And if he’s interested in reuniting with Kyle Dubas, there’s probably a path to a deal.


In Overtime

– Wildcats win Gilles-Courteau Trophy.

– Well deserved.

– John Carlson is not expected to sign a contract extension this summer.

– These aren’t the usual suspects.

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