The Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly interested in acquiring Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, according to NHL insider Frank Seravalli. Marner has been the subject of trade rumors since the end of the season, though recent speculation suggests that Toronto might re-sign him as he enters the final year of his six-year, $65.4 million contract.
Seravalli believes that the Golden Knights are targeting Marner after failing to sign Steven Stamkos in free agency and losing Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson. “What happens with Mitch Marner? It feels like Vegas never backs down. You didn’t get Stamkos, you didn’t keep Marchessault, you didn’t keep Stephenson. Does that mean you are targeting Mitch Marner?” Seravalli said on the “Daily Faceoff” Live Free Agency Special on July 1.
Vegas’ offense took a hit when Marchessault signed a five-year deal with the Nashville Predators and Stephenson signed a seven-year deal with the Seattle Kraken. Additionally, forward Michael Amadio signed a three-year deal with the Ottawa Senators. On the opening day of free agency, the Golden Knights only signed former Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov to a one-year deal, leaving them with just over $6.8 million in cap space.
Despite the trade rumors, Marner might not be traded. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned on June 28 that Toronto is likely preparing a contract offer for Marner. “I think they’re preparing to make him an offer,” Friedman said on his “32 Thoughts” podcast.
After the Maple Leafs’ playoff elimination, Marner expressed his desire to stay in Toronto, saying, “That’d be a goal. I’ve expressed my love for this place. I’ve grown up here, so we’ll start thinking about that now and try to figure something out. It means the world (to be a Maple Leaf). We’re looked upon as, you know, kind of gods here, to be honest,” Marner told the media on May 6.
“It’s something that you really appreciate. The love you get here from this fanbase and this attention is kind of unlike any other. You saw it with the Raptors a couple of years ago, the love they still have for a lot of those players they had to trade off. That’s the kind of love you want,” Marner added.