Four teams expected to deliver record-breaking offers to pending free agent Mitch Marner

Mitch Marner's future with the Toronto Maple Leafs appears increasingly uncertain, with GM Brad Treliving hinting at complicated negotiations in a recent press conference:

According to James Mirtle of The Athletic, if Marner becomes available, the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, and Utah Hockey Club are among the teams preparing to aggressively pursue Marner if he hits the open market on July 1.

On TSN 1050, Mirtle suggested that these teams are willing to offer contracts at or above the level of Leon Draisaitl's league-high $14 million AAV deal.

However, some analysts have noted the risk of handing Marner a deal as big as Draisaitl's. The Edmonton Oilers star has consistently outproduced Marner, with six 100-point seasons and four 50-goal campaigns.

Marner, in contrast, has reached the 100-point plateau only once and has never surpassed 35 goals in a season. Any team offering such a salary will be counting on Marner to take his game to another level.

Marner has the talent to help the team on the ice and the skills to make people buy tickets to games. Teams like Utah, Chicago, Anaheim, and San Jose could be interested in acquiring him.

But many more teams will likely show interest, like the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights. A new report even suggested that the Ottawa Senators could be interested:

The ball's currently in the Leafs' hands, but on July 1st, it'll be in Marner's. Toronto will likely try to trade him before the opening of free agency to avoid seeing him walk away from the team with nothing in return.