Toronto Maple Leafs star winger Mitch Marner is expected to be the most prominent name available in the open market this offseason. A three-time All-Star and the No. 4 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, Marner has proven to be an exceptional playmaker on the talented Toronto Maple Leafs team. He just finished the best season of his career, reaching the 100-point milestone for the first time, with a final tally of 27 goals and 75 assists. In his nine years with Toronto, he has accumulated a total of 741 points, including 221 goals.
Whenever a superstar is on the market, the Vegas Golden Knights tend to be involved. Last summer, they were even in discussions with Toronto about a possible trade for Marner. With Marner set to become a free agent and likely not returning to Toronto, he is once again on the Golden Knights’ radar.
Cap Space and who may go
The Golden Knights head into this offseason with $9.6 million in cap space. Mitch Marner’s previous contract was for $10.9 million over six years. Given that Marner is coming off a career year, he is likely to ask for at least a $14 million extension per year. To accommodate this, the Golden Knights will need to offload some players from their roster.
One notable player who could be traded is Ivan Barbashev, who has a contract worth $5 million per year for the next three seasons. Additionally, Zach Whitecloud has proven to be a reliable bottom-pairing defender for Vegas, earning $2.75 million. However, with significant investment in the top four defensive pairings totaling $27.2 million, it seems unlikely that the Golden Knights will be able to afford an extension for Whitecloud.
Another candidate for a trade is Nic Roy. Although Roy’s salary is $3 million per year and he has been a solid bottom-line center, there is limited room for him to advance in the lineup. The Golden Knights boast one of the strongest center lineups in the league, featuring Jack Eichel, William Karlsson, and Tomas Hertl.
What Marner can bring to Vegas
With Mitch Marner establishing himself as one of the top wingers in the NHL, he can significantly enhance the Vegas Golden Knights with his exceptional playmaking abilities. Marner excels at finding players on the rush and creating space for himself to generate scoring opportunities and shots on goal—qualities that Vegas needs, especially as teams in the Western Conference continue to deepen their offensive lines.
Additionally, Marner could elevate the Golden Knights’ power play, which finished the regular season ranked second in the league with a conversion rate of 28%. While Jack Eichel serves as the primary distributor on the first power-play unit, Marner could either join the second unit or lead to a strategic adjustment that might involve Pavel Dorofeyev being removed from the first power play unit.
Although Marner is primarily known for his offensive prowess, he is also a strong two-way player. His skilled defensive play earned him a spot as a Selke Trophy finalist in the 2022-23 season. Throughout his career, Marner has been a reliable penalty killer, recording 10 short-handed goals during his time with the Maple Leafs. With Bruce Cassidy’s emphasis on a defensive system that requires forwards to consistently backcheck and win puck battles, Marner would be an excellent fit for the Golden Knights.
Is Marner Worth it?
As Mitch Marner appears to be reaching the peak of his prime, he would be a valuable addition for the Vegas Golden Knights. Not only would he provide a significant offensive threat during both five-on-five play and on the power play, but he also has the ability to elevate the performance of those around him, just as he did while playing in Toronto.
However, acquiring Marner is not an absolute necessity for the Golden Knights, as there are other, more affordable winger options available, such as Brock Boeser, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Sam Bennett, who can also play center.
The Golden Knights have a history of making bold moves to strengthen their roster, and adding Marner would align perfectly with their “win-now” mentality, improving their chances of being a Stanley Cup contender once again.
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