After losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs in six games, the Ottawa Senators were able to see their hated rival lose in the second round of the playoffs to the Florida Panthers in seven games.
The series loss to the Florida is putting Toronto's future in question. Both Mitch Marner and John Tavares are unrestricted free agents this Summer, and both may not return to Toronto.
At 28 years old, Marner is the talk of the 2025 free agency. This Summer, $14 million per year have been in talks for Marner for the next contract he signs. There could be one reason why it can make sense for Marner to consider signing with the Senators this Summer.
Marner could be desired to become ultimate bad guy in Toronto and sign with rival Sens
While yes, Marner and the Maple Leafs failed to make it past round two again. The Maple Leafs have not been to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2002. However, the Senators could be a desired choice for Marner if he wants to become the ultimate bad guy in the city of Toronto.
Maple Leaf fans were booing Marner and the rest of the team when the Maple Leafs' season was ticking down. Fans were seen throwing jerseys on the ice and some even burning Marner jerseys on social media. That is where Marner can stick it to the Maple Leaf fans and go sign with the only other NHL team that plays in Ontario. Signing with the Senators would only help the Battle of Ontario's rivalry grow even more.
The Senators making the playoffs for the first time in eight years is a big factor to help draw free agents this Summer. The Senators already have an impressive core on the team with captain Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, Drake Batherson, Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto and Artem Zub. Travis Green also turned into a solid head coach by guiding the Senators to the playoffs in his first season as bench boss.
If the Senators some how land Marner this Summer, it could potentially have the Senators attract other big name free agents in the future. The future is bright in Ottawa as it is, but the team is missing a big name superstar.
Marner's 102 points this season was a new career-high for a single season. Marner has recorded an impressive 741 points in 657 career games in his nine seasons as a Maple Leaf. But, playoff struggles could be an issue for teams like the Senators on why they may not want to consider signing Marner.
While Marner did recorded 13 points in 13 playoff games this year, he's still under fire for not helping the Maple Leafs get over the hump.
Playing in Toronto might be too much pressure for Marner to handle moving forward. The city of Toronto already has seen one guy turn bad when John Cena became one at the 2025 Elimination Chamber at Rogers Centre. Now, Marner has the chance to do the same in this upcoming free agency.