I think the best approach is if you can take a small step back next year without
Mitch Marner. Next year might be a step back. But in summer 2026, there's the possibility for all kinds of stuff league-wide.
I think the most prudent strategy is to patch some of those holes on shorter-term deals - whether that's chasing a Marchand, a
Patrick Kane, a
Jamie Benn,
Claude Giroux maybe. Let's see who actually hits the market.
But I think there's an argument to be made that that's the best first step in moving on from what you might do without Marner's money. Then you've got to look at some longer-term solutions that hopefully present themselves the following summer.