REPORT: The Predators advanced their early claim to a Top Sensational Maple Leafs forward M……

Sales of Mitch Marner were pushed by predators ahead of time.

Key Nashville Predators forward wanted to force a blockbuster deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs prior to making huge swings in free agency.

In the third period of play at Scotiabank Arena on April 11, 2024, Toronto, Ontario, CAN’s forward Mitchell Marner (16) of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the ball against the NYC Devils. Mandatory Photo courtesy of USA TODAY Sports’ Dan Hamilton.

Maybe the biggest buzz on the first day of free agency was generated by the Nashville Predators. They quickly signed Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos from teams that went on to become legends. Defenseman Brady Skjei was then signed by the Predators to a big deal.

The Predators undoubtedly suffered the heaviest hits during the early phases of free agency, though one might debate whether or not they “won” them. The Predators nearly took a different turn with their free agency moves, according to a story by Nick Kypreos in the Toronto Star.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan O’Reilly reportedly encouraged the Predators to try to acquire Mitch Marner through trade. This information was reported by Kypreos. A few games at the close of the 2022–23 season in Toronto saw O’Reilly and Marner play together, and since then, Marner’s future with the Maple Leafs has become quite unclear.

O’Reilly signed a four-year contract with the Predators following his departure from the Maple Leafs. The teams have been closely connected since the start of the summer, although Kypreos would not elaborate on the details of the possible Marner deal.

Among the teams to keep an eye on were the Predators as speculation about Marner’s potential departure started to surface. After their spending binge, the Predators are probably no longer a viable destination for the talented forward, even though the Maple Leafs still have him.

Marner has scored 194 goals and 4445 assists for a total of 639 points in 576 career games with the Maple Leafs. Currently, it appears certain that one of the Maple Leafs’ “Core Four” players will be traded, and Marner is the team captain.

Though Marner and the Maple Leafs have been the most successful team in the playoffs, they have developed a reputation for being playoff chokers.