It appears Mitch Marner could have played last season for the Vegas Golden Knights under different circumstances. Sportsnet`s Elliotte Friedman shared on Friday`s 32 Thoughts: The Podcast that the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Golden Knights engaged in discussions last summer regarding a possible trade involving the star forward.
However, Friedman noted that the potential transaction was never genuinely considered “realistic.” Toronto reportedly sought defenseman Shea Theodore as part of the trade package, but Vegas declined to include him. Friedman recounted Vegas`s stance, quoting them as telling people, “If you want to watch Shea Theodore, you can buy a ticket to watch him play for us,” highlighting their intent to keep the player, which they did.
The 29-year-old Theodore was a key member of the Golden Knights` 2023 championship team. This season, he registered 57 points (seven goals, 50 assists) over 67 regular-season games and also participated in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament representing Canada.
Furthermore, Friedman mentioned that there was uncertainty between the two teams regarding whether Marner would even be willing to waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a move to the Golden Knights. The revelation of potential trade talks with Vegas is not the first time discussions involving Marner have been made public. Earlier reports, following the trade deadline, indicated that Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving had asked Marner to waive his NMC for a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen, an offer Marner reportedly refused.
Away from the ice, Marner`s wife, Stephanie, welcomed a baby boy into their family between the first and second rounds of the recent playoffs. On the ice, the 28-year-old forward had a standout regular season, achieving a career-high 102 points, including 75 assists. In 13 playoff appearances, he added 13 points, scoring two goals and assisting on 11 others. Marner is currently slated to become an unrestricted free agent when the market opens on July 1.
