Signing Marner is No Easy Task, But Blackhawks Need to Take a Shot (+)

Unless the Toronto Maple Leafs get an 11-hour miracle and a sign-and-trade deal can be made, Mitch Marner will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. These types of players rarely hit the open market. Elite players Jack Eichel, Leon Draisaitl, and Mikko Rantanen never got close to free agency. It’s doubtful that Connor McDavid or Kirill Kaprizov will either. That’s why in these rare instances, NHL teams will bend over backwards to lure this kind of talent to their organization.

Marner is a Rare Gem

This is why Kyle Davidson and the Chicago Blackhawks need to be aggressive in trying to land Marner. He will only cost you money. Trying to land an elite talent on the trade market is costly in terms of actual assets, and you still have to pay the player. Signing Marner as a free agent only costs you cap space. Sure, that might cost you assets down the road because you can’t afford to sign other players, but while a team should be mindful of the future, it shouldn’t make you afraid to swing for the fences now.