It is not only evident from the Seth Jones trade that the Chicago Blackhawks are heading in the direction of wanting to add actual solid roster pieces to help the cause, but from the great number of talented prospects and young players, that the team needs to add something big to make the jump. That piece could very well be Mitch Marner the longer he goes without an extension.
Darren Dreger reported that it seems more likely that Marner is poised to test free agency than re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. There is a decision to be made ahead of the trade deadline for Toronto, but I don’t expect the Maple Leafs’ best player this season to be traded ahead of a potential division-winning season and another playoff run.
If anything, things will play out until the summer before Marner potentially tests free agency. At that time, the Maple Leafs will have serious competition in signing him then, especially from the Blackhawks we have to assume.
It is very evident that Connor Bedard needs stability on his wing and what better than a superstar in his prime that can feed him the puck. Marner will get a seven-year deal north of $12.5 million AAV on his next contract and the Blackhawks are going to have a lot of cap space to work with, even after factoring in what a Bedard extension will look like.
Successful teams build from the draft, which the Blackhawks have done, but they also add the right pieces. Even with Chicago’s fine drafting over the past number of years, a lot of the players are still a couple of years off of even making an impact in the NHL. Until then, a player like Marner will give the Blackhawks 90+ point seasons and push Bedard to a new level that 36 line combinations couldn’t this season.
I’d like to draw the comparison from Chicago to the New York Rangers for a second. When the Rangers signed Artemi Panarin, everything changed. It launched them right to the top of the league. Regardless of how things have played out this season, they have had their opportunities to win and will be back next season. The Blackhawks don’t have the same competitive roster right now as the Rangers did at the time of that signing, but bringing in a superstar changes a lot. Marner will provide a huge point difference from whoever else the Blackhawks would put in the same spot.
Marner has some familiarity with Tyler Bertuzzi, who is one of the most consistent wingers of Bedard this season and works well with him, so a top line of Bedard, Marner, and Bertuzzi could really change things up top of Chicago’s lineup in a great way.
The Blackhawks should be willing to throw the bag at Marner if he becomes available to sign on July 1. It’s not very often that players like this come around at a time where Chicago needs to add another big piece to their lineup .
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