With more than $40MM to spend and only a few notable holes to fill on the roster, the Columbus Blue Jackets will have difficulty being outspent on players this summer. Keeping that in mind, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic expects General Manager Don Waddell to be very involved in Mitch Marner’s market.
Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets’ ability to spend won’t alienate all of their competition this offseason, as a report from yesterday indicated the Anaheim Ducks are contemplating a record-breaking offer for Marner’s services. Still, Columbus has even more financial flexibility than Anaheim, making their pitch the most worthwhile part.
In his article, Portzline hinted at the fact that the Blue Jackets have pursued Marner before. After the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, when the Blue Jackets eliminated the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round, the team’s top two talents, Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, departed via free agency.
Columbus’s General Manager at the time, Jarmo Kekäläinen, immediately contacted the Toronto Maple Leafs when Marner’s entry-level contract expired that same summer. Portzline doesn’t believe the Blue Jackets’ trade interest got to the point of exchanging names, as Marner signed a six-year, $65.41MM contract closer to training camp.
If Columbus ultimately signs Marner, they’ll have two of the most defensively responsible wingers in the league. Marner has finished in the top 10 of Selke Trophy voting in three out of the past five years, while Kirill Marchenko finished with a higher CorsiFor% and on-ice save percentage compared to Marner this season at even strength.
Bringing in Marner would also allow the Blue Jackets to bring in another star talent since the tragic death of Johnny Gaudreau on August 29th of last summer. Columbus embarked on a remarkably competitive season in honor of their late teammate, and adding a player of Marner’s talent would certainly boost the team’s morale level.
Unlike some of the other teams with an abundance of cap space this summer, the Blue Jackets would allow Marner to stay on a competitive roster, while also having a much smaller media presence compared to Toronto.
Ultimately, only time will tell what crest Marner will wear on his jersey next season. He won’t have a shortage of suitors, as several teams outside of Anaheim and Columbus have the available capital to make a run at his services.
I mean they offer sheeted him
Carolina.
Not gonna happen… you guys are getting Granlund.
Granlund is not a Brind’Amour type player. But I guess we’ll see.
Do you think Marner ends up in Columbus if Babcock is still the coach there?
The Blue Jackets would be foolish to strap themselves to an outrageous Marner contract, Kekalainen put together a great young team, With a tweek here, And there Columbus makes the playoffs next season with alot of cash in hand.
He is not worth more than he currenylt gets
Resign Fabbro Go after Ehlers, Perbix and Lingren in FA would be a better option for the cap space.
Very true.
Marner may want a legit top 1c to play with
Columbus isn’t that
Anaheim is closer but not by a ton
Disagree, Columbus is absolutely closer than Anaheim. Monaghan is a 1/2 C and Fantilli is well on his way to being a 1C. Anaheim has some solid young talent but they don’t have a Monaghan to carry the load while the youngsters grow. I don’t think spending 14-15 mill on Marner is a great use of cap space, but they would be a much team upfront. Issue is D and goaltending. That’s where they need to upgrade/splurge.
Fantilli is legit
Marner is going west. Anaheim or Los Angeles
Man, you have no idea how much I’d like him to go to my Kings. Go Kings Go!
I can fix the kings
Sign Marner
Resign gabby and Kuzmenko
Sign Connor Brown
Trade Moore for bottom six help
Plus I’m a kings season ticket holder
It’s a mutual fit. They would need to add a legitimate 1C too though.
I think Marner could be a really great fit for Columbus, I just hope they don’t overpay.
. Not against UFAs, but there’s that nagging feeling in me that you want to win a Cup with “your own” guys.
. Marner is instant upgrade for whoever gets him, but I am glad that my Predators are not looking at him. Nashville took someone else’s laundry last season, and you know what happened.
. Well, actually, the Preds problem is that they have a one-plan-pony behind their bench. Brunette will go bye-bye before January.
Hey, if Marner wants to go to Nashville, I’m sure Toronto will trade you his rights for Marchessault, if you’re looking to get rid of him and clear space.