The future of Mitch Marner has become the talk of the NHL, as whispers and leaks from within the Toronto Maple Leafs’ locker room point to a dramatic shift in his career. With free agency just around the corner, anticipation is at an all-time high following reports that Marner’s own teammates have privately revealed his likely next destination.

As rumors swirl about a move to the Western Conference—most notably to the Los Angeles Kings or Las Vegas Golden Knights—the hockey world is holding its breath. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, face the daunting challenge of replacing one of their cornerstone players, while fans anxiously await confirmation of where Marner will sign. In a summer already full of surprises, Marner’s next chapter promises to be one of the most closely watched stories in the league.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner celebrating with teammate Auston Matthews

Photo credit: The NY Times

Mitch Marner’s teammates leaked the player’s next destination on free agency, according to Elliotte Friedman.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will lose Mitch Marner on free agency, as stated by multiple reports. Andy Strickland was the first to make the news official:

With Marner leaving the team who drafted him 4th overall in 2015, two questions remain unanswered: how the Leafs will replace him and where will Marner sign?

In a new development, Elliotte Friedman announced that after the Leafs tried to talk to Marner but the player’s camp wasn’t engaged, and confirmed that there’s a general belief among Marner’s former teammates that the forward will join a Western Conference team, likely the Los Angeles Kings or the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

Friedman also discussed that Marner could be looking for a shorter contract, like Auston Matthews did in 2023.

“On 32 Thoughts, Friedman says that the Leafs have tried to talk to Marner, but his camp is not engaging in discussions

Friedman also said that some of Marner’s teammates have privately suspected he’s planning to head out west, although that’s not confirmed-noted LA, VGK to watch”

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The Kings and the Golden Knights have been involved in plenty of rumors since the Leafs were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Panthers in the second round.

Many other teams are likely to pull all stops to sign him, such as the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks. However, Vegas and LA can offer something else to Marner: joining a team ready to compete for a Stanley Cup every year, where the market isn’t as big as other sports.

But if Marner ends up signing a short-term contract, he could spend a few years in LA or Vegas before joining the Hawks or the Ducks in a few years, when the rebuild will be over.