NHL News: Insider hints at sleeper team to sign Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner ahead of dramatic free agency

It seems all but certain that Mitch Marner won’t remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2025–26 NHL season, and recent reports suggest that one franchise has been quietly flying under the radar in the Marner sweepstakes.

The Maple Leafs’ latest collapse in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is shaping up to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back in Toronto, with major changes expected this offseason. Marner’s departure might be the biggest story of the summer in The Six, but it likely won’t be the only one.

Marner is the most sought after free agent in the upcoming class, drawing interest from nearly every team in the NHL with an extra penny on their pockets. Obviously, teams like the Vegas Golden Knights, who are known for their aggressive approach in the offseason are among the favorites, but there is one sleeper team, silently creeping into the picture.

According to reports from insider Elliotte Friedman, the Utah Mammoth are one of the ‘teams to watch’ regarding Mitch Marner in the upcoming free agency period.

Utah Mammoth players Jack McBain, left, and Dylan Guenther, right, are shown in the home black jerseys with the new logo during an introductory press conference announcing the Utah Mammoth as the permanent franchise name at Delta Center on May 7, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

New Utah, new star

The Mammoth will play their inaugural NHL season during the 2025-26 campaign, and they will vie to feature a top superstar in the league for such a special occasion.

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Not the Maple Leafs: Mitch Marner reportedly names his potential NHL destinations

Marner’s presence in the Beehive State could bolster the franchise to success it hadn’t found in its first season, when they were the Utah Hockey Club. Moreover, they currently have over $20M available in cap space, and could pay for Marner’s hefty contract.

A fit for the Kings

Per insider David Pagnotta, the Los Angeles Kings are high on Marner’s list of teams he’s looking at, even higher than the Vegas Golden Knights. The Kings will be aggressive in their pursuit, especially after their fourth consecutive first round exit against the Edmonton Oilers this season.

Los Angeles last advanced past the first round in the 2013-14 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Marner’s arrival could finally put an end to the postseason slump in the City of Angels.