Mitch Marner considering taking a huge risk in free agency.

This upcoming free agency period in the National Hockey League is gearing up to be the summer of Mitch Marner with the Toronto Maple Leafs star forward set to be the top free agent on the market by a considerable margin. Marner will have nearly unlimited possibilities at his disposal when it comes to choosing a team and negotiating a new contract, with players of his skill level and at his age very rarely reaching free agency.

That's why it comes as such a big surprise to learn that Marner may be willing to risk what would be the biggest payday of his career, all in the hopes of earning an even bigger one down the road.

In a recent article published for The Athletic, National Hockey League insider Pierre LeBrun revealed that a number of sources had informed him of an unorthodox plan potentially coming from Marner's camp this summer.

From LeBrun:

The rumor du jour — and it is very much that, as I’ve not confirmed it but have heard it now from two teams — is that one option Mitch Marner is considering is a two-year deal at around $12 million to $13 million per year, positioning him to hit the market again when the salary cap skyrockets to $113 million or higher in a couple of years.

While it might seem outrageous to leave what would be well over $50 million on the table in a contract negotiation, it is worth remembering that Marner is still only 28 years old having just turned 28 in May of 2025. Marner would be 30 at the end of a 2 year deal and would be in prime position to negotiate what would then very likely be the final, contract of his NHL career on a long-term deal.

Of course Marner's ability to do so would depend entirely on him remaining healthy and remaining as productive as he has been with the Toronto Maple Leafs in recent years, neither of which is a guarantee. This would be a massive gamble on the part of Marner and his camp, but it would be one that could potentially pay off in a major way if everything goes according to plan.

Do you believe Marner could earn even more as a 30 year old NHL player 2 years from now? Or would it be a mistake for him to sign anything less than a 7 year max-term contract this summer? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.