The Golden Knights are facing many franchise-altering decisions this offseason, but they aren’t alone. While Golden Knights fans are anxiously waiting for a Jonathan Marchessault extension, fans in Toronto are hoping their team unloads one of the NHL’s top line forwards. After another first-round exit Toronto Maple Leaf center Mitch Marner has become the target of local fans. The career 1.11 points per game player would be a fit for any team, including the Golden Knights. However, it would take some creativity by both clubs.
It’s a huge couple of days on the calendar that I think are under the radar. A lot of the things that end up happening at the Draft or on July 1st, those conversations were born this week in Buffalo at the combine. You can see all of the agents talking to GMs, GMs meeting with GMs. It’s all sort of playing out this week. – Pierre LeBrun on TSN OverDrive
Now, there is nothing directly linking Vegas to Marner, but I think all of us would agree, you cannot count the Golden Knights out on any available player. You name him, Vegas inquired. So, it’s safe to guess both first-round victims have been in communication. Like LeBrun reported, maybe the seed was planted for a future transaction.
All options remain on the table. Marner could certainly still be with the Leafs in camp. He could be with the Leafs in camp with an extension and they could also get a trade offer that they cannot ignore. All of those things are options. Anything can happen. –LeBrun on TSN OverDrive
We’ve seen the Golden Knights front office make an 11th-hour deal in 2018. Late in September, Vegas traded for veteran sniper Max Pacioretty to beef up their second season offense. The team immediately offered Pacioretty a four-year, $28M contract extension too. That would likely be the scenario if Vegas were to acquire Marner from the Maple Leafs. In 2019, the Golden Knights also negotiated an extension with Mark Stone before he accepted the trade with Ottawa. On multiple occasions, Vegas felt comfortable rewarding a player before he ever skated on T-Mobile Arena ice. What’s wrong with one more?
Marner has a full no-move and controls a lot of the cards. They may go to him with a trade offer over the next month or two and Marner will say yes or no. There isn’t a single team in the league that would want to make a tangible trade offer without knowing or thinking they can extend Mitch Marner. That’s a very underplayed part of all of this. –LeBrun on TSN OverDrive
One thing common among most of Vegas’ star players is they were offered lucrative deals with no move clauses. Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, Alex Pietrangelo and Mark Stone have full no move clauses. Ivan Barbashev, Noah Hanifin, William Karlsson, Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore have no trade clauses. Not all were offered by Vegas, however they have shown they’re not fully opposed to them. If a possible deal developed with Toronto, a NMC would not get in the way of their pursuit for Marner.
The stud Maple Leaf isn’t the only significant player possibly available this summer. If the Golden Knights were to go big game hunting, they would have options. How would Leon Draisaitl or Mikko Rantanen look in gold? We’ll leave the salary cap gymnastics and empty cupboard obstacles to the decision makers at CNA.
