When NHL Media Day arrives, it offers players, coaches and people in the front office to get excited about the new season approaching. The Ottawa Senators had their media day yesterday and it offered excitement seeing Linus Ullmark wearing a Senators jersey at last.
Excitement around Ottawa is growing more with the optimism that the team is close to "a breakthrough." With trading for Ullmark, having the young duo of Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle, and having underrated forward Drake Batherson, opening night for Senators fans can't come quicker.
However, media day also provides players to have some interesting comments. Yesterday at media day offered interesting comments from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner. With the Maple Leafs being the Senators' biggest rival, the Summer of 2025 could provide an unexpected twist.
Mitch Marner could be destined to be a Senator in 2025 with his recent comments at Maple Leafs Media Day
Marner will enter the final season of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent in 2025. According to PuckPedia, Marner has a $10.903 million cap hit for this season at 27 years old. With being due for a new contract, Marner had interesting things to say at Maple Leafs Media Day.
"I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to talk about the season."
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 18, 2024
Mitch Marner opens his media availability with a statement on his contract situation. pic.twitter.com/znKPg12VHR
Marner shut down any comments from the media if they were going to ask him about his future with the Maple Leafs and being a free agent in 2025.
"I'm not here to talk about that," Marner said.
There's no doubt Marner will have interest from NHL teams when free agency starts in 2025. With no contract extension for Marner and having his comments at media day, it could make things interesting. A question now comes up: could Ottawa be a destination for Marner?
If Marner were to sign with the Senators, it would be an ultimate shot at the Maple Leafs organization by Marner. Signing with a rival would be insane and make him a big enemy in Toronto. However, adding Marner to a young and talented roster like the Senators would be a big move for the team.
The Senators have Claude Giroux, Anton Forsberg, Nick Cousins and Ullmark's contracts come off the books after this season. Keeping Ullmark after 2025 could likely be the Senators' biggest goal, but adding Marner's offense would be lethal for the team.
Marner has recorded three 90-point seasons and three 60-asssits seasons. Marner has recorded 639 points in 576 games played. Bringing in a play-maker that can help Tkachuk, Stutzle and Batherson's game can make them better point scorers.
Speculation around Marner not being happy in Toronto grew big in 2024. The thought of Marner not re-signing with the Maple Leafs has grew. Marner has a chance to be the ultimate "heel" if he was to sign with the Senators.
When players say they don't want to talk about their contract situation, it could make things interesting with their future of playing for the team they currently play for. Marner's comments make things interesting, but with the direction Ottawa is going in with their young talent, it could add interest for Marner to have interest in signing with them.