Insider Reveals Top Team on Mitch Marner's Free Agency Wish List

With the speculation surrounding Mitch Marner as high as ever, it seems that it's going to come down to whoever can offer the most money while also being still highly competitive to utilize his prime years.

Speaking on Jeff Marek's podcast 'The Sheet', Pagnotta revealed that the Kings were a bit ahead of the curb when it comes to signing Marner, as both sides seem to have interest:

That seems to certainly confirm the reports we heard earlier about Marner being interested in Los Angeles, as well as Vegas. It seems he wants to go to a competitive hockey market, but one without as intense a spotlight and the chance to live in sunny California.

While it wouldn't offer the same tax benefits as Florida or Vegas, LA would still be able to give Marner more than enough money while allowing him to grow his young family in one of the most luxurious places in North America.

They have a ton of young promising talent, a successful history in the last decade, and could be a Marner-esque player away from another title.

But they also have some expiring deals not only this year, but next summer as well and if they want to make sure they have enough firepower to keep competitive with Marner, they need to make some choices.

Andrei Kuzmenko and Vladimir Gavrikov need a new deal this season, and Alex Laferriere needs to be extended long-term.

That's this season, and the next you'll see Adrian Kempe, Akil Thomas, and franchise icon Anze Kopitar all become free agents, all while still paying a 35-year old injury prone Drew Doughty $11M.

It's a blessing and a curse, because Los Angeles needs another superstar to pair alongside Quinton Byfield, and Marner fits the bill perfectly, but that bill is going to run them a lot of money.

He did have 102 points this year and also did end up helping Team Canada win the 4 Nations, but his playoff production has been under par for the better part of a decade.

If Los Angeles is banking on the fact that Marner can improve that aspect just merely by being out of Toronto, it's a great investment.

But if they sign him, and he commits long-term, only to turn around and fail spectacularly?

The Kings will be in check, and they might not be able to make it out.