All signs are pointing to Mitch Marner moving on from the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason, and frankly, he’ll be the biggest fish on the open market. Marner is going to hear from just about every team once he becomes a free agent, as general managers across the league will try to get creative to appeal to Marner and his family as their new place to call home. One team to consider one of the favourites to get Marner’s attention? The Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings were once again ousted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past season, and are going to be in the market for an impact top-line forward, who can move the needle for their group. Marner would, and so much more. New GM Ken Holland will be looking to put his fingerprints all over the Kings’ roster this summer, as he enters his first offseason in his new role, and with $21.7 million in cap space, he’ll have all resources necessary to meet Marner’s asking price, regardless of the term of the contract.
The Kings should be in the mix for Marner, and rightfully so. They have sunny California to offer, his close friend Drew Doughty is on the team and can answer any questions on all the off the ice fine details, and the Kings are a playoff-bound team, who play a very accommodating style that will suit Marner’s game. The Kings love to play a defensive brand of hockey, and while that hasn’t worked well for them to get passed the Oilers the past four straight seasons, adding a player like Marner doesn’t mean they’ll take a step back in that category, it just means they will be even stronger, and then also add 100-point player to produce more offense.
Los Angeles has all the bright lights, Hollywood stars, and sandy beaches you could ask for, but it’s also not a media hotbed for hockey, so it will allow Marner to take a step back from the spotlight. Playing in Toronto has seemingly become overwhelming for the 28-year-old, who grew up dreaming of one day playing for the Maple Leafs. Now, it’s time to move on, and Marner is well on his way out the door, which should be tough for Leafs Nation to swallow in some capacity, especially thinking he’s going to move on likely for nothing.
Marner would become the Kings highest-paid player, and it won’t even be close. Up front Kevin Fiala leads the charge making $7.8 million AAV, meanwhile Doughty has two years left at $11 million against the cap. Holland is in a great space with the roster that was handed over to him last month, as he has limited pending free agents to worry about, and a very cap-friendly roster, with high expectations to win now. Marner can get his money, and still leave Holland some wiggle room to add around the edges. It would be a massive addition for the Kings, and immediately propel them into a contender out of the Western Conference next season.
The Kings are going to have some competition, even within their state, as the Anaheim Ducks are also a team to look out for as a potential front runner. The same can be said for the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars, as Marner is going to have a lot of options to head west next month.
Based on the fact the Kings are in win-now mode with a balanced roster, lots of cap space, a prime destination city, and they could potentially get over the hump with one impact player added to their top-six, Marner to the Kings should be on everyone’s radar.
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