Insider urges the Red Wings to sign a $65.41 million superstar forward.
Deal completed: Detroit Red Wings officially sign $95.41 million star forward in blockbuster deal.
The Detroit Red Wings are going to be aggressive this offseason, and one source believes they should target the best free agent available.
Mitch Marner, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ standout player, concluded his six-year, $65.41 million contract this season. He is likely to hit the free market, with numerous teams interested in him.
NHL insider Max Bultman of The Athletic wants the Red Wings to pursue Marner in free agency to strengthen their
“Mitch Marner is a bit of a lightning rod because of his (and the Toronto Maple Leafs’) playoff history, but there’s no doubting the caliber of the player,” Bultman stated in an email. “He’s a 100-point winger who has twice scored 30 goals and is consistently considered for the Selke Trophy. That is a top forward by any standard, and he would make the Red Wings a stronger, more dangerous squad.
“There are still questions: Can Detroit add another little forward to its top six if it wants to become more difficult to play against? Do the Red Wings seek to make him the league’s highest-paid winger? However, Marner is the top free agent on the market for a reason, and almost every club in the league, including Detroit, should contact him,” Bultman noted.
Marner would be a first-line forward for the Red Wings, providing much-needed offense to the lineup. Detroit has missed the playoffs for the past nine years, and the expectation is that Marner can help them return to the postseason.
Marner scored 27 goals and 75 assists for 102 points in 81 games.
Red Wings’ GM Hints at pursuing a prominent free agent
Detroit wants to add more quality to its team, and Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman says he’s willing to acquire a high-profile free agent.
Of course, Marner is the biggest free agent available, so the Red Wings may be interested in him.
“We’ve always thought that we’d consider any talented player. Any player that can assist us in any capacity. If there’s a guy worth spending whatever amount of money on who wants to play in Detroit and fills a need for us, we’d definitely attempt to sign him,” Yzerman said during his year-end news conference. “We’re at a different level than we were five years ago because we have a strong youthful core of players. And if we could supplement it with a renowned free agent, we’d absolutely consider it.”
Detroit has just over $21 million in cap space this summer.
Marner is undecided on his impending free agency.
Marner will be the top free agent available, but he is unclear about his future.
The great winger will be highly sought after, but when Toronto was ousted from the playoffs, Marner remained silent on his future.
“I’ve always loved my time here, I’ve loved being here,” Marner told the crowd. “I’ve been really thankful. I have not processed anything yet. It’s still quite fresh… I will sit down with my wife. I’ll start chatting and figure out what the next step is.”
Marner is projected to obtain a contract of more than $12 million each season. offense.
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