The NHL offseason is always a breeding ground for speculation, surprises, and seismic shifts that can redefine a franchise’s trajectory for years to come. This summer, all eyes are on one of the league’s most electrifying forwards, Mitch Marner, as he prepares to test the open market as an unrestricted free agent. With his tenure in Toronto seemingly drawing to a close, rumors are swirling about where the dynamic playmaker could land next—and the Chicago Blackhawks have emerged as a tantalizing destination.

Whispers of a potential partnership between Marner and rising superstar Connor Bedard have already sent shockwaves through the hockey world. The prospect of pairing one of the NHL’s premier assist machines with a generational goal scorer is enough to ignite hope among Blackhawks fans and spark fear in their rivals. As Chicago looks to accelerate its rebuild and return to relevance, the pursuit of a marquee talent like Marner could be a game-changing move, both on and off the ice. While nothing is set in stone, the possibility alone is enough to fuel endless debate and anticipation as July 1 approaches.

Photo credit: Philly Hockey Now

What are the chances that the Chicago Blackhawks could land pending UFA forward Mitch Marner, set to become one of the highest-profile players to hit the market?

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who is catching all kinds of heat yet again for failing to deliver when it mattered most in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, is set to become a UFA on July 1.

By most projections, he won’t be coming back to the Maple Leafs and will instead be taking on a new challenge in a new city – and he’ll certainly be making some bank, projected to earn at least an AAV (average annual value) of $12-14 million a year on his new deal.

While it’s thought by many that he’ll want to join a contending team, others think that he could entertain the thought of joining the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks to team up with 2023 1st round draft pick Connor Bedard.

Karl Rasmussen of Sports Illustrated has listed Chicago as a prime candidate to land Marner, in part to Chicago management’s desire to keep Bedard happy and to give him the 1st true elite playmaker that he could suit up with.

Connor Bedard may be growing frustrated with the Blackhawks’ woes throughout his first two seasons in the NHL. A great way to expedite the rebuild in Chicago would be for the team to pursue Marner.

Bedard has never played with a playmaker quite as talented as Marner, who has recorded 59 or more assists in each of the last four seasons. They could create a devastating tandem on the Blackhawks’ first line and Marner could help the 19-year-old phenom unlock his full potential.

Marner would be able to escape the scrutiny of playing in Toronto while starting his next chapter in one of the league’s biggest markets on one of the Original Six franchises.

Marner reached a career-best of 102 points (27G, 75A) this year with the Leafs, which may have been his last with the team.