All signs are pointing to Mitch Marner leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs once free agency opens this summer, and there’s going to be no shortage of interest. Marner’s camp is likely to hear from just about any team with significant cap space, and while some Stanley Cup contenders could come calling, keep an eye on the Anaheim Ducks as a wild-card to win the free-agent sweepstakes.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek is looking to get his team back to being a consistent playoff team, and after a strong second half to last season, Verbeek made some changes behind the bench, bringing in Stanley Cup winner Joel Quenneville. ‘Coach Q’ brings a presence to the Ducks dressing room, and even with a shaky past, is someone who players respect, and have a history of loving to play for. Verbeek is hopeful he can replicate what Quenneville was able to accomplish in Chicago, and made that very clear at his media introduction May 10.

“When I really boiled it down, the decision that really made it feel right was when he took over Chicago, how young that team, how raw that team and how talented they were. I feel we’re in that same predicament as the same team that he took over.”

Verbeek also spoke to reporters a few weeks ago and shed some light on the offseason outlook in Anaheim.  It’s quite obvious Verbeek won’t be shy once free agency opens, which means the Ducks could very well be circling the waters for a big fish.

“I expect this to be very active and aggressive. I think I see this team at a point to where my expectation of this team is to make the playoffs next season. I expect our group to take a step and so I’m going to be active and aggressive in making our team better.”

Being aggressive means Marner could be in play here, on either a shorter term four-year deal, or a seven-year contract. Verbeek has $32.1 million in cap space to work with this offseason, that’s even after adding veteran winger Chris Kreider and his $6.5 million cap hit for the next two seasons. The Ducks have a good mix of young core pieces, and established veterans throughout their lineup, and with playoff aspirations next season, adding Marner could push the team over the hump and into the middle of the pack in the Western Conference.

Marner’s a game breaker. Frankly, he does it all. From putting up points in a hurry, to being an above average penalty killer, Marner’s 200-foot game is something that’s going to appeal to a ton of teams, including Anaheim. The Ducks have some flaws that Marner can immediately help nourish. He’s played in big games, he knows what it takes to win, and he would bring a ton of excitement and yes, some expectations to the Ducks dressing room. Of course, there’s been moments in late stages of playoff rounds where Marner’s gone quiet as a Maple Leaf, but the fact is Verbeek is looking to become a perennial playoff team and Marner can help achieve this goal, and potentially more.

There’s plenty to like on the Ducks roster, which means some contract extensions are coming to some of their young core. Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish, and Leo Carlsson are entering their final seasons of their entry-level contracts, so Verbeek could look to lock both up long term this summer.  The same can be said for defenceman Pavel Mintyukov. Goaltender Lukas Dostal needs a contract, and as the goalie of the future in Anaheim, don’t be surprised to see an extension coming his way.

While Verbeek is going to be dipping into some of his cap space for internal business this offseason, there’s also the trade front that he’s been linked to. Troy Terry’s name is rumoured to be out there, and the same can be said for veteran goaltender John Gibson, who is no stranger to trade rumours. Terry makes $7 million AAV through the 2029-30 season, while Gibson is on the books for $6.4 million AAV for two more years. Moving both could give Verbeek even more flexibility financially in the free-agent market, and also allow for him to upgrade his roster in other areas. Marner is a massive upgrade over Terry, but is someone who can elevate their roster and create quite the buzz in Southern California.

Speaking of California, it’s one of the many reasons Anaheim will be on Marner’s radar this summer as a free-agent option. Going from the media circus in Toronto, to raising a young family and playing hockey in California seems like a significant upgrade in the lifestyle department. With the Ducks on the up-and-up, yes, there’s a bit of risk when it comes to the results side of things, but if Marner isn’t prioritizing winning a Stanley Cup in 2025-26, and is more middle-to-long term focused with his contract, Verbeek could be able to convince him to sign on the dotted line.

From the Ducks perspective, Marner could be the perfect linemate to get Trevor Zegras going. The 24-year-old Zegras has had a very inconsistent start to his career in Anaheim, but has some of the highest potential offensively in the NHL. Marner would complement him not just offensively, but more importantly on the defensive side of the puck. Marner’s one of the best two-way players in the game, and could help alleviate, and teach these elements into Zegras’ everyday routine, while also helping push him to getting to a point-per-game player, where management expects him to be.

At the end of the day, Marner is going to do what he feels best for his family, and secondly his career, which makes the Ducks are very interesting destination. Plenty of beaches, great weather, a solid young core, established veterans, significant less media, a Stanley Cup winning coach with still plenty to prove, with an aggressive GM with money to spend, and a history of making bold moves. Quack, quack, quack, the Ducks would be mighty next season with Marner on their top line.