There comes a time when getting one of the better superstars in a sport is in play. Their services hit the market and changes the game, making the team much better. Mitch Marner is the perfect example of this, for he's in the last year of his current deal. The Vegas Golden Knights have been linked to the Maple Leafs superstar, with the team looking to repeat.
Now, that sounds good, right? Getting a valuable piece from one of the best offensive teams will solve everything and possibly launch Vegas to the top of the NHL world. He has the tools to push a team to win the Stanley Cup and boosts almost everything. That includes the forecheck and power play, which makes getting him a top priority.
But what if everything wasn't rosier on the other side? What if the grass truly wasn't greener? Sometimes, that big acquisition doesn't turn out to be what a team anticipated. Other times, it's due to the underlying circumstances that don't fit the team right now. Whatever the case, things don't turn out the way they should, with the end result hurting the team's future.
Let's look at a non-hockey example. Take Herschel Walker, who was traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Minnesota Vikings for a plethora of draft picks. The running back was considered the "missing piece" for Minnesota's Super Bowl chances. The problem? The Vikings fell while the Cowboys soared, with Dallas using those picks on superstars like Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson.
For the Golden Knights, that could be the case with Marner. It could be a great player that looks good in the short term, only to hamper the team's future. There are three good reasons why Vegas shouldn't bite on the Maple Leafs superstar.
Mitch Marner's current deal has a cap hit of $10.903 million, which would leave a sizable dent in the Vegas Golden Knights's salary cap situation. Considering Vegas only has $897,516 in non-LTIR cap space to work with, that makes a trade nearly impossible without sending one or two contracts over (if Vegas was lucky).
Even if Kelly McCrimmon found a way for another team to retain his salary, it would be a massive cap hit on the team. There's no such thing as a team trading a player while still paying his entire salary. He would also have to part with this year's first-round pick and other picks, making the trade even riskier.
With the Maple Leafs star in the last year of his deal, he's due for another big contract. He nearly gets 100 points every season and is 27 years old, with some youth to show. The Golden Knights are already tied up with big contracts such as Mark Stone ($9.5 million cap hit) and added a couple more. Therefore, it would handicap the team further if another big contract was added. If Vegas is adding Marner, they wouldn't add him for the short term, as proven by Noah Hanifin's extension.
A beloved Vegas Golden Knights player can be re-signed for cheaper
Let's explore that potential Mitch Marner deal. With the Maple Leafs forward regularly flirting with 100 points every season and his given skill set, he should get a $10 million AAV deal. With other big deals on the books, it would make signing him long-term impossible.
But another big name on the market can be had for cheaper. Obviously, that would be Jonathan Marchessault, who could re-sign for a shorter deal with a smaller AAV. How much? It would be estimated around the $6 million mark, giving Vegas more wiggle room in free agency.
For Marchessault, he might be older and smaller. However, he has an offensive niche in the Vegas Golden Knights system. He's an excellent sniper who can come in clutch with his fantastic shot. Yes, roughly $6 million per season sounds like a lot of money. But compared to a star player like Marner, it looks like a sweetheart deal.
There are also other Golden Knights to consider in the future, including Jack Eichel (current deal expires in 2026-27). The former Sabre has proven himself as a reliable playoff star, with nine goals and 24 assists in 29 career playoff games. With the prospect pool lacking, other players, including Marchessault, should take precedence for Vegas.
The quality vs. quantity debate
As mentioned in a previous post, the quality vs. quantity debate is something that sparks arguments everywhere. Should the Vegas Golden Knights get the best players possible and sacrifice depth? Or should Vegas add more forwards on cheaper deals? It's something to consider for the franchise's future.
For the Golden Knights, adding a bigger contract that must be extended would compromise the team's depth. With the aforementioned contracts added to the payroll, it might be too much for them to take on yet another superstar. That money (and draft picks) could be used to help the team, both now and in the future.
It's the classic line of "cutting your nose to spite your face," a line used in the previous post. While adding the best players sound great on the surface, it can also expose more flaws and weaknesses. Having five forwards hit free agency this summer doesn't help, with the team needing quality talent now.
