Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner has been the subject of trade rumors this summer, with the Vegas Golden Knights emerging as a potential destination. Following the loss of key forwards Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson in free agency, Vegas is looking to bolster their offense, and Marner could be the perfect fit.
A new tool on the website PuckPedia, called PuckGM, allows users to create their own trades. One user proposed a deal that would send Marner to Vegas in exchange for defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, along with additional pieces.
Maple Leafs Receive:
- Alex Pietrangelo
- William Karlsson
Golden Knights Receive:
- Mitch Marner
- Timothy Liljegren
On paper, this trade appears to be mutually beneficial. Toronto would gain a top-tier defenseman in Pietrangelo and a solid offensive player in Karlsson, who scored 60 points last season. Karlsson also has three years remaining on his contract, worth $5.9 million per season.
Vegas, on the other hand, would acquire a game-changing offensive talent in Marner, who could significantly enhance the playmaking abilities of Mark Stone and Jack Eichel. Additionally, Liljegren, a former first-round pick, would help fill the void left by Pietrangelo. Liljegren recently signed a two-year, $6 million deal with Toronto but has been mentioned in trade rumors.
Pietrangelo’s contract includes a full no-movement clause, meaning he would need to approve any trade. He has three years remaining on his deal, which pays him $8.8 million annually.
Insider Links Marner to Golden Knights
With Marner entering the final year of his contract, trade speculation has intensified, especially following another first-round playoff exit for Toronto. On June 12, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Golden Knights as a potential suitor for Marner, citing their surplus of defensemen as a point of interest for Toronto.
“One of the things with Marner is that a lot of people suspect that Vegas will be around it,” Friedman said on Leafs Morning Take. “Because Vegas is just smart; they are around any good player. So I got people hypothesizing Shea Theodore and Logan Thompson deals to me, for example.”
While Shea Theodore was a popular name in these discussions, the PuckPedia user proposed Pietrangelo instead. Logan Thompson, meanwhile, was traded to the Washington Capitals during the NHL draft.
Maple Leafs Coach Looking Forward to Coaching Marner
Despite the trade rumors, newly-hired Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube expressed his excitement about coaching Marner. “He’s a character guy, a great person,” Berube said on June 29 after the 2024 NHL draft. “I’m looking forward to coaching him.”
Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving, however, did not provide any updates on a potential Marner trade following the draft. “No update on Mitch,” Treliving said. “As I’ve said, I’m not going to do play-by-play. Mitch is a great player. We’re lucky to have him.”
Marner recorded 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points in 69 games last season. The former fourth-overall pick has expressed his desire to remain in Toronto for the foreseeable future.
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