Crazy new report on Mitch Marner signing with Stanley Cup contender

According to a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Toronto Maple Leafs forward and pending unrestricted free agent Mitch Marner is arranging one on one meetings with NHL teams on July 1st, the opening day of free agency.

Interestingly enough, TSN insider Darren Dreger reports that Marner won't be signing the moment that free agency opens and is instead more likely to sign in mid-July once he's had time to mull over all his offers.

"I really don't expect Mitch Marner to sign with a team on July 1st," Dreger said on TSN 1050 today. "His decision might wait until the middle of July."

That's interesting because Marner is undoubtedly the biggest fish in the free agent pond and how things play out with him could directly impact other big name free agents like Sam Bennett, Nikolaj Ehlers and Brad Marchand.

There have been plenty of reports that teams with plenty of salary cap space like the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks are interested in Marner, but they're not exactly Stanley Cup contenders. We've also heard reports that the Vegas Golden Knights are interested and, of course, they're a Stanley Cup contender. Today, NHL insider Chris Johnston reports that there are rumors about the Dallas Stars taking a run at Marner in free agency.

"I keep hearing rumblings about Mitch Marner and Dallas; it would appeal to Marner; I don't know how that works, they don't have a lot of cap space," said Johnston earlier today.

As Johnston points out, the Stars don't have the cap space to sign Marner but there are rumors about a potential Jason Robertson trade that would free up $7.75 million per season in cap space.

There were also reports that the Leafs were amongst the teams to receive an "invitation" from the Marner camp, but Friedman's not so sure. Just yesterday Friedman reported that Marner's camp has not negotiated with the team at all.

"The Maple Leafs have tried to talk to Marner," Friedman said on yesterday's 32 Thoughts podcast. Marner's camp has not engaged with them. And I think everyone knows the way this is going to be headed, that on July 1st he's going to... hit the market, he's going to pick a team, he's going to set a contract and he's not coming back to Toronto."

Don't let the zamboni door hit you on the way out, Mitch...

For our earlier report on the Leafs and a potential trade with the New York Rangers, read below.

According to a report from New York Rangers insider Arthur Staple, the Toronto Maple Leafs have interest in acquiring veteran forward Mika Zibanejad via trade this offseason.

From Staple via The Athletic:

"There’s a chance that Drury has already worked it out with Zibanejad, who has five years at a $8.5 million average annual value remaining plus a full no-move clause, that moving on would be best. They’d still need to find a fit —the Leafs have some interest and some space to fill — but trading Kreider’s BFF soon after dealing Kreider would produce the impact on cap flexibility and team culture Drury so badly wants."

Kreider, of course, was shipped to the Anaheim Ducks last week. Ditto for Jacob Trouba who was shipped to the Ducks earlier in the season. Now Zibanejad is on the block... but that's not entirely a new development.

We've heard forever that Zibanejad is on the trade block but that his contract is a stumbling block for most teams who are interested in acquiring him. We heard rumors that the Vancouver Canucks were interested in Zibanejad during the JT Miller trade but that the two sides couldn't make the money work... which is why Filip Chytil ended up heading to Vancouver.

As for the Leafs, Zibanejad does seem like a natural fit. He's a versatile forward who could fit anywhere on the team's top three lines, especially with Mitch Marner headed to free agency.

Thoughts, Leafs fans?