Add Another Surprising Team in the East As Big Mitch Marner Pursuers

One team in the East with a huge amount of cap space is expected to take a legitimate run at Mitch Marner.

Mitch Marner is going to be one of the highest-paid players in hockey in the 2025-26 season, perhaps even THE top-paid player, if one particular Western Conference team gets their way.

But there will be a whole lot of suitors for the 100-point man to choose from, and, naturally, the teams with the most cap space available will have the easiest time making him an offer he can't refuse.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will have $40.4 million available to spend this summer, more than every other NHL team, save for the San Jose Sharks. Jackets GM Don Waddell is ready to wield that cap space to take the team to the next level.

It wouldn't be the first time that Columbus tried to woo Marner, as they are said to have had discussions with the player's agent about a potential offer sheet back in the summer of 2019.

That never came to pass, but Aaron Portzline writes in The Athletic that they're expected to pursue Marner again, and that there are four good reasons for the Toronto Maple Leafs star to consider Columbus this time around as a UFA:

Less Pressure in Ohio

Marner has had a bit of trouble with the bright lights of the media center of the hockey world in his time in Toronto. Heck, he's even received death threats from some poor excuses for fans. And he's definitely been thrown under the bus as the poster boy for the Leafs' continued playoff failures over the years. He wouldn't have to face any of that intense scrutiny in Columbus.

Proximity to Toronto (sort of)

As Portzline writes, "Not only has Columbus drawn rave reviews from veteran players as a “great place to raise a family,” but it’s a great spot to live if you want to be close to family in Toronto … but not too close. It's less than a 90-minute flight away.

Ready to Win

The Blue Jackets were the Cinderella Story of the NHL season, having to overcome the enormous tragedy of the death of Johnny Gaudreau last summer, plus a slew of injuries to several key players, including losing captain Boone Jenner for all but 26 games. They were playoff contenders right down to the wire, becoming the last team to be eliminated from postseason contention in the season's final week. Adding a superstar like Marner could be the ticket to launching them into the playoffs.

How much will it cost to sign Mitch Marner?

Money

Ah yes, the $14 million question: Who will have the offer to sweep Marner off his feet from a financial perspective? As mentioned above, no team, except one, has more cap space, so if Waddell really wants to go for it, he likely won't be outbid. The three-time All-Star is expected to command an annual salary in the range of about $14 million on a long-term deal.