The winds of change are swirling around the Toronto Maple Leafs as one of their brightest stars, Mitch Marner, appears set to chart a new course in his NHL career. For years, Marner has been an essential part of the Leafs’ famed “Core 4,” dazzling fans alongside Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares. But as free agency looms, the writing seems to be on the wall: Marner’s days in Toronto are likely numbered. While captain John Tavares looks poised to extend his tenure with the Leafs, the same can’t be said for Marner, whose contract situation has become the talk of the hockey world.

Top NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman has fueled speculation, doubling down on his prediction that Marner will soon be suiting up for the Vegas Golden Knights. With Marner’s name swirling in rumors connecting him to several franchises—including the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Utah Mammoth, and Anaheim Ducks—the stakes have never been higher. Despite a career-best 102-point season, Marner’s playoff struggles and the abrupt cancellation of his Toronto charity event have only intensified the sense that an era is ending. As anticipation builds, all eyes are on Marner’s next move.

Photo credit: Vegas Hockey Now

Top NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman is revealing more information on where pending Toronto Maple Leafs UFA forward Mitch Marner could choose to sign this summer.

By all indications, it looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs and pending UFA forward Mitch Marner are heading for a split.

For the last several years, Marner has been 1/4 of Toronto’s famed “Core 4” of players that also include captain Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares.

Both Marner and Tavares are up for new contracts, and while it looks like the chances of Tavares re-signing with the Maple Leafs are good, the odds of Marner returning are nowhere near as positive.

In the meantime, all eyes are on where Marner will potentially sign. Based on the latest report from top NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman, Marner could be taking his talents to Sin City to join the Vegas Golden Knights.

Elliotte Friedman: Vegas has been the team I’ve predicted [for Mitch Marner], I’m going to stick with that until I’m proven wrong – SN 590

Marner has been linked to multiple teams in free agency, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Utah Mammoth, and Anaheim Ducks.

While he reached a new career-best 102 points (27G, 75A), he earned criticism for having only a single assist in the final 4 postseason games of the ECSF against the divisional foe Florida Panthers; the Leafs were eliminated by the Panthers for the 2nd time in 3 years.

He also essentially confirmed that he was leaving the Maple Leafs with his controversial cancellation of his annual charity event in Toronto, which many took as a clear signal that his time in Toronto was through.