The Toronto Maple Leafs might have identified a potential trade partner for Mitch Marner ahead of the 2024-25 season, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Friedman discussed a new trade possibility involving Marner, suggesting the Vegas Golden Knightscould be interested in acquiring him.
Speaking on The Leaf’s Nation podcast, Friedman said, “I had people who said to me, for example, one of the things with Marner is that a lot of people suspect that Vegas will be around him because Vegas is smart—they’re around any good player. So I got people hypothesizing Shea Theodore and Logan Thompson deals to me.”
Friedman emphasized that the Golden Knights have a history of pursuing top-tier players, which could make Marner an attractive target for them.
According to Friedman’s insights;
The proposed trade scenario would see the Golden Knights sending defenseman Shea Theodore and goaltender Logan Thompson to Toronto in exchange for Marner.
Marner has been a pivotal figure for the Maple Leafs since his NHL debut in 2016, amassing impressive statistics over his tenure. In 576 games with Toronto, he has scored 194 goals and provided 445 assists, totaling 639 points.
His consistent performance has been a cornerstone for the team, including a standout season in 2024 where he recorded 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points in 69 regular-season games.
Despite his efforts, the Leafs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Boston Bruins, with Marner contributing 1 goal and 2 assists in seven games.
As Marner enters the final year of his six-year, $65.4 million contract, uncertainty surrounds his future with the Maple Leafs. The team’s management is open to exploring trade options to enhance competitiveness, particularly in the postseason, where they have faced early exits in seven of the last eight years.
However, Marner holds a no-movement clause, granting him control over any potential trade discussions. He retains the right to veto any trade proposed by the Leafs, ensuring his involvement in shaping his career path moving forward.