There is less than a week until free agency, and if rumors are to be trusted, then the Toronto Maple Leafs’ right winger Mitch Marner is on his way to bag the biggest contract the NHL has ever seen. Some speculate that the total value of the deal might be upwards of $100 million.
But while Marner and, by extension, any team that gets him will be having a day, the Maple Leafs, on the other hand, will be losing their biggest scorer and one of the main reasons they made it to the playoffs. With 102 points in the 2024-25 season, Marner would be hard to replace.
But with him becoming an unrestricted free agent almost a certainty, both his current and new teams have to make some massive shifts, according to one NHL insider.
Vegas and Toronto Need To Make Their Moves as Mitch Marner’s Exit Comes Closer
When it comes to landing Marner, every team seems to be interested. According to Nick Kypreos, an NHL analyst and insider for Sportsnet, the situation might be more complicated. “I’m hearing as much as half the league will try and take a run at Marner in free agency, but the serious bidders will be established well before July 1,” Kypreos said.
Meanwhile, with Marner expected to leave Toronto, the Maple Leafs desperately need a winger for the top six, and with their $25.7 million in cap space, they have a chance to get someone good from either the NHL Draft or the UFA market.
Kypreos continued, “However, while the focus around Marner has to do with his free agent status, we can’t rule out the potential for a sign and trade here.”
According to Kypreos, “Going back to Vegas and [William] Karlsson, obtaining a No. 2 center is as high a priority for Toronto as a top winger replacement for Marner this summer.”
This could help the Vegas Golden Knights as well, as they have a cap space issue. With just $9.6 million in cap space, the Golden Knights would have a hard time accommodating Marner. One way that Vegas can do this is by a trade.
One name that pops up is forward Tomas Hertl. With his cap hit just a bit over $8 million, trading him might get the Golden Knights the cap space they would need to sign Marner immediately.
But for the Maple Leafs, there’s still a chance for them to get something out of this. “For Toronto, allowing a sign and trade might be the best resolution of all. Dealing Marner would ensure they get something back for losing him,” Kypreos mentions.
“Doing so with a contract in place would bring a return that’s far more enticing and impactful than simply trading his negotiating rights. They might be able to bring in a roster player to replace him.” This could allow them to get a replacement winger.
This might also prove to be the best scenario for either team, especially for Vegas, since they will be able to secure Marner for eight years and avoid any bidding war by securing him before July 1.
