Could the Flyers Make Sense for Mitch Marner?

There is a good chance that Mitch Marner has played his last game in a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater following the team’s second-round exit on Sunday.

Marner, a key member of the team’s “core four,” will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, barring an extension agreed upon before then. While he is arguably the second most important piece for the Leafs, they may not have the money to retain him, with Matthew Knies and John Tavares, and other contributing players poised for new deals.

Toronto was reportedly willing to deal Marner back at the deadline in a trade that would have brought Mikko Rantanen to Toronto, but Marner used his right to veto the trade. He remained in Toronto for the rest of the season despite possibly damaging the relationship.

Now, Marner is set to receive a big payday, as he is the marquee free agent in this year’s class, and just turned 28.

Plenty of teams will bid for Marner’s services for the coming season and beyond, resulting in a bidding war.

I have said in the past that the Flyers may not be willing to pursue a big-fish free agent yet. However, could that all change if the right player wants to come to Philadelphia? Should the Flyers make a run at Mitch Marner this offseason?

Read More: Flyers Introduce Rick Tocchet as Their 25th Head Coach in Franchise History

Mitch Marner Through the Years

Marner is, and has been, a true superstar in the NHL for years.

Looking at the basic stats, Marner’s rookie season in 2016/17 is his lowest point totals with 61. Since then, he has four seaons with 90+ points, including 102 in 2024/25, and his lowest since his rookie year being 67 points during the covid season.

Aside from his rookie season, Marner has only scored less than 20 goals once (2019/20) and has five seasons with 25+ goals. He also has had above 40 assists in every single season of his career.

Marner is truly a do it all player.

He is an excellent back-checker, and is very solid in the defensive zone. As a player, he is very complete.

Marner has also made two NHL First All-Star Teams, and could very well add a third after the seaspn he had this year.

In his nine-year NHL Career, Mitch Marner has totaled 221 Goals and 520 assists for 741 points in 657 games–well above a point per game player. He also has a rating of +128 throughout his entire career.

In 2024/25, Marner had a career high 75 assists and 102 points. He had 27 goals in this past season, which was eight shy of his career high (35).

If he does, in fact, leave the Maple Leafs, some team is going to get a very good player. A superstar at that.

Putting the Regular Season Player Allegations to Rest

One of the biggest knocks on Marner, at least that I have seen latley, is that he dissaprears in the playoffs.

That is just not true.

In 70 playoff games, Marner has 63 Points (13G 50A). While that is not exactly the point-per-game star that fans have grown acustomed to with Marner in the regular season, he is still producing greatly in the postseason. The narrative is primarily talked about because of a dissapointing postseason in 2023/24, where he had three points in seven games.

This postseason, Marner had 13 points in 13 games. He had two goals and 11 assists in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Marner has been a point-per-game player in the postseason four times in nine playoff appearences.

Since joining the Maple Leafs, Marner has the most points in the playoffs (63), with the most assists (50) and the fifth-most goals (13). Shrinking the sample size to the last five seasons, Marner (42 points) is one point shy of William Nylander (43) for the team lead in points. He still has the most assists (34) and is still fifth in goals (8). Shrinking the sample size one more time, in the last three seasons of Maple Leafs playoffs, Mitch Marner leads the team with 30 points. His 24 assists lead the way, with his six goals being the sixth most during that time frame.

To say Marner does not show up when it matters most is foolish. One bad postseason does not show who Marner is as a player. Nor should it deter any team from pursing him, including the Flyers.

Would Marner Make Sense for the Flyers?

Timeline-wise, no, signing Mitch Marner would not make much sense. However, a superstar does not become available every offseason. Even if one is set to hit the open market, they almost never actually make it that far.

There are definitely some loaded free agent classes in the near future, headlined by Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel in 2026 (if either makes it to FA), followed by Quinn Hughes and Nico Hischier in 2027, and many more in the following years. However, no player may be as available as Marner is.

While the timing may not make sense, it should not deter the Flyers from pursuing Marner. To me, it’s just like the Tocchet hire. Although it may seem like a win-now move, it is more of a move for the 2026 season and beyond. Mitch Marners are not always in free agency, the smart move would be to pursue, even if the rest of the team is not ready.

The next issue would be the Flyers’ surplus of high-end right-wingers. They already have Travis Konecny and Matvei Michkov, who are both top-line players. Most of the Flyers’ wings are natural right-side players. While that is an issue, the primary problem stems from the fact that both Konecny and Michkov are RWs.

If Michkov is willing to continue playing LW like he did at the end of the season, that would solve the issue.

However, there is another interesting option.

Could Marner Play Center?

Mitch Marner is a primary right-winger. It is what has earned him his coming paycheck. He has multiple 90+ point seasons at the position, and 102 this past season. A position change would be crazy; however, crazy works.

Marner played center during his youth as well as in juniors. He was a center in his draft year before moving to the wing prior to joining the Leafs. Head coach Craig Berube contemplated giving Marner a center role before deciding he was better off keeping Marner with Auston Matthews.

Moral of the story? While it may risk not getting 90+ plus from Marner, he, in theory, could play center if need be.

Again, giving someone $12.5+ million a year who could ~possibly~ play a significant position of need is a ballsy move. However, superstar centers rarely hit the open market. If you want to sign one, you either have to find a diamond in the rough or take a massive risk.

If it works out, could you imagine a top line of Michkov–Marner–Konecny? That would be a dream line.

If the worst comes to worst, you move Marner back to RW and Konecny to the second line if the center experiment does not work out.

The possibility of Marner switching to center is awfully intriguing, and it should be more than enough reason for the Flyers to kick the tires on signing the superstar.

Read More: Three Centers the Flyers Should Target this Offseason

Would You Like Mitch Marner to the Flyers?

When it’s all said and done, getting Mitch Marner is going to cost a lot of money for whatever team decides to sign him. He’ll likely cost most of the Flyers’ remaining cap space after they sign their four RFAs.

As previously mentioned, superstars are not often available. When they do become available, you have to take advantage of the opportunity.

Personally, I would be thrilled to sign Marner. He is a fantastic hockey player with tremendous skill and is one of the better two-way players in the NHL. There is not a lot to dislike about his game.

Marner is passionate about the game–he wants to win. He could be the perfect piece to help lift this Flyers team into immediate playoff contention and lead them into a cup hunt in the very near future.

Despite the team not being ready for big-time free agent acquisitions, it would be smart for the Flyers to go all-in on Mitch Marner this offseason; would you?

Read More: Should the Flyers Consider Trading Back?

For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit Philly Hockey Now and like our Facebook page.
Follow us on 𝕏:
@wmjsports
@PhillyHockeyNow