Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner projected to land record-breaking $14M NHL contract

All eyes are on Mitch Marner. The Toronto Maple Leafs star has hit free agency just as the NHL salary cap surges and teams across the league are preparing to throw record-breaking money his way.
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With contract projections exceeding $14 million per year, Marner is on track to become the highest-paid winger in
history surpassing Mikko Rantanen's previous record. As teams line up with massive offers, Marner's next move is set to shake up the entire league.
Maple Leafs Mitch Marner star eyes record-breaking contract in career-defining offseason
At 28 years old, Mitch Marner enters free agency coming off his best NHL season yet—a dazzling 100-point campaign that showcased not just his elite offensive production but also his unmatched versatility.
Marner has long been considered a two-way weapon. In one unforgettable game, he even filled in as a defenseman when the Maple Leafs were short-handed, proving just how valuable he is on both ends of the ice. That kind of talent doesn't just get noticed, it gets rewarded.
And thanks to a rising NHL salary cap, the timing couldn't be better. According to NHL Trade Rumors' Brian La Rose, multiple teams are expected to offer Marner upward of $14 million annually, potentially shattering Mikko Rantanen's current winger record of $12 million AAV.
Ducks, Golden Knights among top contenders for Mitch Marner's contract
With Marner likely pricing himself out of Toronto, the Western Conference is buzzing. The Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights have emerged as early favorites to land the superstar winger. Anaheim could use Marner as the cornerstone of their rebuild, while Vegas is known for making bold moves to stay in Cup contention.
There's also talk of a potential sign-and-trade, allowing Marner to secure an eighth year on his new deal while giving Toronto a modest return.
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But one thing is clear: Marner's time with the Maple Leafs may be nearing its end.
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Whether he lands in Vegas, Anaheim, or surprises the hockey world with another destination, Mitch Marner's free agency is the headline event of the offseason and his next contract will make NHL history. The countdown to a record deal has officially begun.

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Time of India

an hour ago

• Time of India

Matthew Tkachuk played through a torn adductor and hernia to win the Stanley Cup—now faces surgery decision

Photo byWhen the Florida Panthers clinched their second straight Stanley Cup on June 21 with a commanding 5-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, few realized just how much pain one of their stars had endured to help bring the championship home. Matthew Tkachuk revealed after Game 6 that he had played through a torn adductor and a hernia for the entire 2025 postseason. The injury, which dates back to February, didn't stop him from tallying 23 points across 23 games. Now, as the celebrations cool off, Tkachuk faces an uncertain summer—one that may include surgery. The Panthers star revealed the full extent of his injury after Florida clinched back-to-back championships—his offseason now hinges on a 50-50 call about surgery Matthew Tkachuk first sustained the injury during the Four Nations Face-Off on February 17, when he was representing Team USA in a 3-1 win over Canada. It was the third period of that international showdown when things went wrong. Speaking to reporters after Saturday night's Stanley Cup clincher in Sunrise, Florida, the 27-year-old said, 'I feel good. Definitely way better after a win. Should be all good.' But the road back wasn't as straightforward. Following the injury, Tkachuk missed the final 25 games of the regular season. At the time, the Panthers only publicly described it as a groin issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's A List Of Cheapest Steel Suppliers (See The List) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo On March 3, general manager Bill Zito told reporters, 'Matthew's going to be out for an extended period of time. We hope to get him back for the playoffs.' He returned just in time for the postseason, though his minutes were limited early on. In the first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tkachuk was kept under 14 minutes of ice time in three of five games as he worked his way back into form. Despite the physical toll, Tkachuk delivered when it counted most—ending the playoffs with eight goals and 15 assists. His final goal came in the opening period of the championship-clinching Game 6 against the Oilers. Still, his offseason remains clouded with uncertainty. Speaking at the Panthers' post-game media availability on Saturday, Tkachuk shared, ' It's 50-50 right now if I'll need surgery ,' adding that he has more tests scheduled before a final decision is made. The recovery time for adductor surgery typically ranges from six to eight weeks. Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup repeat: Grit, pain, and legacy With the Panthers now cementing themselves as a modern-day dynasty—making the Stanley Cup Final three years in a row and winning it in back-to-back seasons—Tkachuk's toughness has become part of the team's larger legacy. His postseason resilience is a reminder of just how far players push their limits when the Cup is on the line. Whether or not he ends up undergoing surgery, Tkachuk's performance in the 2025 playoffs will be remembered as one of the grittiest of his career. Also Read: 'Get this shit the f**k off my Screen!': NHL fans rip Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's screen time during Stanley Cup final Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here

Hindustan Times

3 hours ago

• Hindustan Times

For back-to-back champ Panthers, the celebrations will continue before an important offseason begins

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Hindustan Times

4 hours ago

• Hindustan Times

Stenhouse has vowed retaliation on rival Carson Hocevar. Will NASCAR payback be delivered at Pocono?

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Hocevar has to look over his shoulder — and for that charging Chevrolet in his rearview mirror. 'The scorecard has it that I I'm getting something from the 47 at some point, right? And I think my team and everybody kind of knows that,' Hocevar said. Their beef has little chance of getting squashed any time soon, a dispute that started three races ago when Hocevar wrecked Stenhouse early at Nashville. Hocevar sent Stenhouse spinning last week in Mexico City, which ignited the postrace melee on pit road. Stenhouse seemed to grab at Hocevar as he spoke to him, then slapped at his helmet as Stenhouse walked away. Hocevar's in-car camera captured audio of the confrontation. 'I'm going to beat your (behind),' Stenhouse threatened. 'You're a lap down, you've got nothing to do. Why you run right into me? It's the second time. I'm going to beat your (behind) when we get back to the States.' Hocevar avoided a smackdown from Stenhouse but his Spire team hit him where it hurts — a $50,000 fine on Tuesday for derogatory comments he made about Mexico City on a livestream as NASCAR raced there last weekend. At just 23 and in his second full Cup season, Hocevar has whipped himself into a flurry of unwanted attention, continuing a trend that started last year when even veteran Denny Hamlin chimed in and said NASCAR had ' to do something to Carson.' Stenhouse might do it on behalf of the sanctioning body with his fist or even his No. 47 Chevrolet. Hocevar conceded, yes, payback may be imminent and the time to talk out their lingering issues is over. Yet, Hocevar pleaded: 'It's not an open hunting season on the 77 because of these incidents.' Hocevar stamped his own target on his back. With his aggressive racing. With his ignorant words. 'Just because I do something in the heat of the moment or maybe, you know, you do it two or three times, doesn't mean I'm not hard on myself for those mistakes because they are mistakes,' he said. 'It's just trying not to make that a pattern. But when you're constantly making aggressive moves like we're doing, it's balancing that fine line of, you know, you make a thousand moves a day. Just unfortunately, what people remember isn't always the good ones. You always remember the negative ones.' Case in point, Hocevar walked back his derisive comments about Mexico after he actually experienced the culture of the country following NASCAR's foray into a new Cup Series market. 'I didn't give it a shot. I didn't give it a chance,' Hocevar said. 'I didn't go walk around. I didn't go see it. When I did, you know, then hindsight's 20/20, then I have my own opinion. But I've already put it out there.' Spire also ordered Hocevar to attend cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training. He can be thankful he gets a shot at another race. Stenhouse's spotter, Tab Boyd, was fired this week by HYAK Motorsports in the wake of an unflattering social media post about his experience in Mexico. 'That's above my paygrade,' Stenhouse said. The biggest KO so far came in the standings, where Stenhouse has been flattened in just three weeks from 13th in points in the thick of playoff contention before Nashville to 21st entering Pocono. Hocevar is one point ahead of Stenhouse in the standings. 'That's the thing that hurts worse for our team is just where it's put us,' Stenhouse said. Stenhouse's trash talk more worthy of UFC hype could put him in hot water should he actually deliver on his vowed retribution and take out Hocevar. If it comes to a point where NASCAR dishes out a monetary punishment, it's OK, the 2023 Daytona 500 champion could afford his fine. He just sold his North Carolina estate for $12.2 million, the highest-priced residential sale ever recorded in the greater Charlotte metro area. 'It's been a big week. We've had a lot going on,' Stenhouse said, laughing. He'd rather talk real estate than about the space and time wasted thinking about Hocevar. 'I'm just honestly tired of talking about the kid,' Stenhouse said. Tired of the talk? Sure. Of the action? Not just yet. 'Eventually it'll all come together at some point,' Stenhouse said. 'I'm not sure when or how. But it will." ___ AP auto racing: