Whether you love him or hate him, there's no denying Mitch Marner would be a great addition to any team, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are about to show us whether or not they appreciate what he brings to the table.
Given the release of Mitch Marner's next team odds, you'd be hard-pressed to imagine a world where Marner isn't dawning the blue and white next year, but I'm not buying it.
I break down the NHL odds and give my insight on why and how the Leafs can capitalize by shipping Marner to the Western Conference this offseason.
Mitch Marner next team odds
| Team |  |
|---|---|
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
-220 |
| 🏒 Field (Any other team) | +350 |
| 🏒 Utah Hockey Club | +750 |
 Vegas Golden Knights |
+1,000 |
 Nashville Predators |
+1,200 |
 Chicago Blackhawks |
+1,400 |
 Seattle Kraken |
+2,000 |
 Anaheim Ducks |
+3,000 |
Odds as of 6-26
Favorites to be Mitch Marner's next team
Toronto Maple Leafs (-220)
Regardless of if you believe it's right or wrong to vilify Mitch Marner for the lack of postseason success the Toronto Maple Leafs have had during his first eight years in the league, one thing holds true: he's an undersized winger who can put up points in the regular season.
Whether or not his three 90+ point seasons are worth over $11 million a year, that's for a GM to decide, and the fan base really has no say on that matter. However, the fan base does have enough sway (especially in Toronto) to force a GM's hand and ship a player off once the bridge has been burned.
Marner's inability to produce in the postseason, coupled with some rather dodgy negotiation tactics and a general "IDGAF" attitude has me (a Leafs fan of 20+ years) believing the writing is on the wall for Mitch.
Toronto simply cannot run it back with the same core and expect different results this year, and Marner's trade value is steadily decreasing. I say thank you for eight years of service, but it's time for the organization to cut ties.
Field (+350)
This is a bit of a weird one to see as the second favorite on the board over at DraftKings, but given how much value teams put into wingers who can drive their line and put up points on a consistent basis, I can see most teams at least picking up the phone.
Would the Leafs trade him to another Eastern Conference team? They'd be dumb to do so, but if the return fits what they are looking for, then they need to do what needs to be done.
I mean, seeing him a handful of times as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes or Buffalo Sabres will be a tough pill to swallow when he scores a hat trick on his return (Leaf trauma things), but the team will know how to contain him with physical play.
Either way, I don't see the Leafs doing business in the East.
Utah Hockey Club (+750)
When it comes to Mitch Marner and the Utah Hockey Club (such a weird name), the deal would check a lot of boxes for both teams.
It would give Utah a potential face of the franchise alongside Clayton Keller, and it would help everyone slide into the roles they are meant to play. Going back to the Leafs would be (reportedly) Lawson Crouse, Barrett Hayden, and/or Dylan Guenther, along with a possible draft pick.
While Leafs fans would be quick to say "they lost the trade", turning an impending UFA (barring no contract extension) into three young players with tons of upside is a win in my books.
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Best fit for Mitch Marner
Nashville Predators (+1,200)
If you're Brad Treliving and have been tasked with getting Marner to waive his modified NTC, you need to pitch him the idea of playing on a contending team that's in a market in which he can thrive.
Cue, the Nashville Predators.
Adding Mitch Marner to the mix would instantly give the Predators enough depth up front to make a run in the West, as Marner would be able to take the load off of Filip Forsberg and drive his own line.
In return, the Leafs would be looking to target Luke Evangelista and Tommy Novak, while possibly even swinging for the fences with Juuse Saros (they can't say no if you don't ask).
I see Marner fitting in well with the Nashville culture, and the Leafs getting a good ROI on eight years of 16 in blue and white.
