As the NHL off-season approaches, all eyes are on Mitch Marner and the high-stakes drama surrounding his impending free agency. After another disappointing playoff exit with the Toronto Maple Leafs, speculation about Marner’s future has reached a fever pitch.

For years, Marner has been a cornerstone of the Leafs’ offense, dazzling fans with his playmaking ability and consistency during the regular season. However, persistent struggles in the postseason and mounting pressure in Toronto have led to growing expectations that the star forward will seek a fresh start elsewhere.

With recent reports confirming that Marner is likely to leave not just the Maple Leafs but Canada altogether, the list of potential destinations is narrowing—and the intrigue is only intensifying. As hockey insiders and fans alike debate where Marner might land, the possibility of him joining a West Coast contender or a rising team outside Canada is fueling endless speculation. The coming weeks promise to be crucial, as the hockey world waits for one of its brightest talents to make a career-defining decision.

Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Mitch Marner’s free agency will be one of the biggest off-season stories in the NHL, and now his top potential destinations have officially been revealed as he is likely to depart the Toronto Maple Leafs and Canada in 2025.

After another disappointing performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the overwhelming expectation around the league is that star forward Mitch Marner will depart the team in free agency.

Recent reports however have confirmed that Marner will likely leave Canada if he leaves Toronto, taking seven teams immediately off his list of suitors in free agency this summer.

Now, Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon has put together a list of suitable free agency candidates for Marner, and with Canadian teams crossed off the list, it appears as though Dixon believes Marner will be headed to the West Coast.

At the top of Dixon’s list are four teams on the West Coast (LA Kings, Utah Mammoth, Anaheim Ducks, Vegas Golden Knights), but unsurprisingly, the likes of New York and Pittsburgh remain potential landing spots for No. 16 as well.

While Marner excels in the regular season, much has been made of his underwhelming post-season performances in recent years, and with all the pressure in Toronto, a team like Anaheim or Utah could be perfect, especially as it gives him the chance to be a veteran on a young, ascending team.

At this point in time, all signs point towards Marner departing Toronto and Canada in free agency, and while money could certainly change his mind, with teams like Toronto and Calgary both having immense cap space and interest in signing him, Marner’s future likely lays beyond both of those teams.