There’s been a lot of “hype” over Mitch Marner. He’s a UFA this offseason. However, for the St. Louis Blues, there is no question in my mind that the Blues should NOT try to sign the winger. Marner’s market value is rumored to be around $13-$14 million AAV.
For the Blues, with a limited cap space heading into next season, this would double the Blues’ highest-paid players, Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas, who both make $8.125 million. The Blues’ cap space is relatively low, currently at $5,025,150.
The Blues still need to sign RFA backup goalie Joel Hofer, who should be at least $2m AAV. While the Blues have a solid set of players, defense is the one area of emphasis this offseason. Would the Blues benefit from having some offensive additions? Absolutely.
Playoff underachiever
The main problem with Marner is the cap money and the lack of playoff production. Marner has played 70 career playoff games with 13 goals and 50 assists. While the 50 assists are a decent number, the 13 goals are unexciting for a player asking for $13-$14 AAV. Yes, he is much more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. But the deeper the Leafs into a series, the tighter the checking. The tighter the checking, the less noticeable Marner becomes.
There is no denying Marner’s incredible regular season, racking in over 100 points, the Blues proved they’re more than capable of getting to the playoffs with their current roster. The team should spend some money defensively, but not for a winger. I could even understand a center. Signing a player just for their name value is a huge mistake. There are a few exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, most teams succeed with depth, not stardom.
Likeliest destinations?
If I were to predict where Marner would end up, it would be with the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, or the Boston Bruins. I can’t see Marner playing for another Canadian team. Besides, most teams that could afford him will be rebuilding teams with the cap space, not the cup-contending teams.
