Mitch Marner Linked to Eastern Conference Team in Free Agency

The future of Mitch Marner with the Toronto Maple Leafs is a hot topic, and the possibilities are as intense as they are limited. Will he stay loyal to Toronto, or will he jump ship and set sail for new horizons? 

One thing’s for sure—there’s no middle ground here. But here’s a twist: could a reunion with his former GM be in the cards?

And then there’s this recent bombshell: one NHL insider is doubling down on the idea that Marner is almost certainly headed elsewhere, with the New York Islanders emerging as a prime destination: 

"1. Lou Lamoriello (President of hockey operations of the New York Islanders) and Marner have a relationship from their time in Toronto.

2. Marner is extremely close with Matt Martin and his kids and family. With Marner even spending sometime on the Island in the summers. Martin will certainly be big on selling Marner on the NYI.

3. Marner has been playing in the shadow of Matthews in Toronto. He certainly would be the guy on the Island, something he may relish.

4. With UBS hosting the All-Star game next year, ownership is going to want positive buzz around the team and for them to be good. From what I understand, the directive is for Lou to make a splash this off-season.

Again, nothing is a guarantee and he very well may end up elsewhere or even back in TO, but if there's ever a time where the Isles land the big fish, it's this summer, with this particular player."

Also, look for the #Isles to be huge bidders on Mitch Marner if he makes it to market on 7/1. Not saying it’s a lock by any means and I get Islanders fans skepticism because of how 7/1 typically treats them, but this situation is a little different.

1. Lamoriello and Marner…

— Anthony LaRocco (@ALaRocco0801) March 15, 2025

 New York Could Be the Perfect Landing Spot for Marner

The connection to Lou Lamoriello, his former GM in Toronto, and the chance to play alongside a fresh core of talent could give the New York Islanders a serious edge over other suitors like Chicago. The Islanders are a team on the brink of something big, but they’re missing that final piece to push them over the top. 

With Brock Nelson now out of the picture, the team is in need of a new star to build around—and Marner could be that game-changer.

Plus building chemistry with players like Anders Lee, Bo Horvat, Simon Holmstrom, and Maxim Tsyplakov, might just be the key to pushing him past the elusive 100-point mark—a milestone that’s been just out of reach throughout his career.

And let’s not ignore the poetic symmetry here. Seven years ago, John Tavares, the Islanders’ modern-day franchise icon, left Long Island for Toronto. 

Now, Marner could flip the script, leaving the Maple Leafs to become the new face of the Islanders. 

It’s a storyline that feels almost destined to happen.

Image - Rob Gray-Imagn