In a story written on PuckPedia, former Florida Panthers Assistant General Manager Steve Werier believes the San Jose Sharks are in play to sign Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner this summer.
Marner enters the 2025 summer with a lot at stake. The Maple Leafs star could hit the open free-agent market for the first time in his NHL career. Sharks GM Mike Grier told reporters after the trade deadline that he intends to be “active” this summer.
Werier’s story praises Grier’s job of setting the Sharks up for success through draft picks and a favorable salary cap situation. Per PuckPedia, the San Jose Sharks are projected to have $40,520,832 in cap space this summer.
“Grier deserves credit for hiring Ryan Warsofsky as the youngest first-time head coach in the league. He makes sure his young stars — Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, and William Eklund — get ample ice time and opportunities and has generally played them with the best linemates available. Couple that with signing Hall of Fame Good Guy Tyler Toffolli to a long-term deal to ensure the young stars have a role model on and off the ice, and Grier’s off to a solid start in the culture department. That can’t be measured, but it’s important,” Werier writes.
“*I think it will land them Marner*,” Werier says.
Werier also mentioned this while on a San Jose Hockey Now podcast.
Earlier this season, the NHL reported salary cap projections for the next three seasons and showed significant growth. The 25-26 season is expected to have a maximum Salary cap of $95.5 million.
Does Marner fit the Sharks’ Free Agent Targets?
Marner has 86 points (22 goals, 64 assists) in 70 games this season. He’s an established penalty killer, and although it doesn’t seem like it from social media, he’s produced in the postseason. During the Maple Leafs’ run to the second round in 2023, Marner had three goals and 11 assists in 11 games.
He came up clutch for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off with an overtime-winning goal against Team Sweden.
One thing to note is that the Sharks’ GM, Mike Grier, wants to ensure he won’t get buyers’ remorse when signing a free agent.
“I’m not going to just step on the gas completely, as when we talked in January, and end up having buyer’s remorse on things and overpaying guys grossly with term and money. We’ll definitely be going to bring guys in and try and build. I don’t think aggressive is the right word, but we will be active,” Grier said after the deadline.
If Marner hits the open market, the longest he can sign is seven years. If he were to sign a maximum-term contract in San Jose at 27, it would finish when he’s 34. New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin signed a seven-year contract at 27 and has not disappointed.
Will Marner hit the open market?
The last part for the Sharks to have a shot at bringing Marner in is for him actually to hit the UFA market on July 1st. It was widely reported that Marner denied a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes because he wants to stay in Toronto.
The forward deserves to get paid, but his asking price will be high for the entire NHL to match. Only a few places can fit him inside the salary cap, and the San Jose Sharks look like they can give him the richest offer.
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