With NHL free agency opening this week, the Toronto Maple Leafs are making one final, urgent push to trade Mitch Marner’s contract before losing him for nothing.
The star winger is poised to become one of the most sought-after unrestricted free agents on the market, and general manager Brad Treliving is working overtime to salvage value in return.
Leafs Push for Sign-and-Trade as Clock Winds Down
This isn’t the first time Toronto has explored trading Marner, but it’s likely their last serious attempt. With free agency opening Tuesday, the Maple Leafs have limited time to make something happen before the all-star forward walks away as a free agent.
Toronto’s preferred route appears to be a sign-and-trade, particularly with the Vegas Golden Knights, who have emerged as Marner’s most aggressive suitor. Such a deal would allow the new team to sign him for the maximum eight years, compared to the seven-year limit in standard free agency. This extra year represents a significant advantage in attracting a high-caliber player.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that Nicolas Roy is likely headed to Toronto if a sign-and-trade materializes. Treliving, speaking from the Maple Leafs’ practice facility during the draft, remained guarded but hinted that negotiations continue.
Brad Treliving on trading Mitch Marner’s signing rights:
“You’d always like to get something, right? That’s not always the case. That’s probably as far as I want to get into it, but we’ll see how things go.”
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“You’d always like to get something, right? That’s not always the case,” Treliving said. “That’s probably as far as I want to get into it, but we’ll see how things go.”
Treliving’s comments came amid ongoing calls and messages, his Apple Watch reportedly buzzing during media availability, suggesting that trade negotiations were actively underway. The urgency is understandable given recent NHL precedent.
Vegas Emerges as Top Suitor With Roster Assets
Recent trade history offers insight into what the Leafs might expect, though Toronto aims higher than most comparable deals. On June 30, 2024, the Carolina Hurricanes traded the rights to pending unrestricted free agent Jake Guentzel to Tampa Bay in exchange for a third-round pick. However, the Leafs want immediate roster help in return for one of their franchise cornerstones.
Reports indicate that Toronto has expressed interest in two Vegas players: right-shot center Nicolas Roy and left-shot defenseman Nicolas Hague. Both were part of the Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup-winning squad and would address key needs in Toronto’s lineup. Importantly, neither player has trade protection clauses, making a deal easier to execute.
Roy, 28, and Hague, 26, represent viable trade assets that fit Toronto’s timeline. Both are young enough for the Leafs’ long-term plans while bringing playoff-tested experience from their championship run.
For Vegas, accommodating Marner would require creative salary cap maneuvering. One option reportedly under consideration involves placing veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo on long-term injured reserve. The 34-year-old carries a significant $8.8 million cap hit through the 2026-27 season, and his health status remains uncertain.
With both teams facing pressing needs, Toronto to gain assets and Vegas to create cap space, conditions may be aligning for a rare sign-and-trade involving a player of Marner’s caliber. The next 48 hours will prove critical in determining whether the Leafs can avoid losing one of their most talented players for nothing, or if they’ll be left reflecting on what might have been.
