Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Mitch Marner, who recently completed a career-best 102-point season in 2024, appears unlikely to re-sign with the team before hitting free agency. As of Saturday, any hope among fans that Marner would change his mind has dimmed, with new reports revealing serious trade talks between the Maple Leafs and the Vegas Golden Knights concerning Marner’s rights.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman during the NHL Network’s coverage of Day 2 of the 2025 NHL draft, the two teams have held discussions over the past few days exploring potential trade scenarios to acquire Marner before he officially becomes a free agent on July 1.
Details of the Proposed Trade and Potential Player Movements
Friedman noted on air that these conversations focus on exchanging roster players rather than draft picks, signaling a complex deal involving current NHL talent.
“There are talks underway between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vegas Golden Knights about trading for Mitch Marner’s rights,”
Friedman said.
“They’ve been looking at this for a few days now. I think they’ve discussed players that could go back and forth, so I don’t necessarily think it’ll be a draft pick.”
He added,
“There could be some roster players going back in return from Vegas to Toronto if this deal does happen. The conversations are continuing, and we’ll see where it goes. But definitely serious discussions happening between Toronto and Vegas about Marner’s rights.”
Among the players likely involved, Friedman suggested that Nic Roy, a 28-year-old center who scored 15 goals and 31 points in the previous season, might join Toronto as part of the trade.
“I believe Nic Roy will be going to Toronto if this gets done,”
Friedman posted on X.
Cap Space and Salary Challenges in Acquiring Marner
With Vegas currently holding just $5.65 million in salary cap space, acquiring Marner—who is expected to command a new contract worth approximately $11.5 million annually—would require significant roster adjustments to free salary space. Trading Nic Roy would open up about $3 million, but additional moves would be needed.
Potential candidates for being moved from Vegas to accommodate Marner’s cap hit include forwards William Karlsson ($5.9 million) and Ivan Barbashev ($5 million), along with defensemen Brayden McNabb ($3.65 million) and Zach Whitecloud ($2.75 million). Clearing these contracts would create the financial space necessary to sign Marner long term.
Prospects That Could Interest Toronto in Exchange
If Toronto seeks to receive any of Vegas’s top young talent in the deal, names that have been mentioned as potential targets include winger Trevor Connelly, the organization’s top prospect according to The Athletic; forward Mathieu Cataford; and defenseman Lukas Cormier. These players could help Toronto rebuild after losing a key offensive star.
Implications for Toronto and Vegas Moving Forward
Should the trade come to fruition, Mitch Marner would likely join the Pacific Division champions, bringing elite offensive skill to the Golden Knights roster. For Toronto, trading away Marner would mark the end of an era, as the team seeks to reshape its lineup before free agency begins.
Overall, the ongoing negotiations underscore the complex financial and strategic decisions NHL teams face during the offseason. Fans will be watching closely as talks continue to develop, with any finalized deal set to significantly reshape both franchises ahead of the 2025 season.