Imagine a different Stanley Cup Playoffs scenario: Mitch Marner as a Vegas Golden Knight and Mikko Rantanen wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. This intriguing possibility nearly materialized through a major trade that ultimately didn`t happen.
According to James Mirtle of The Athletic, the Maple Leafs, Golden Knights, and Carolina Hurricanes engaged in discussions before the trade deadline about a potential deal. This proposed trade would have seen Marner move to Vegas and Rantanen head to Toronto. The transaction reportedly stalled because Vegas and Carolina couldn`t agree on the necessary assets to complete the multi-team deal.
To finalize the exchange, the Golden Knights would have needed to send assets to the Hurricanes. Given Marner`s substantial $10.9 million salary cap hit, this package would probably have included at least one significant player from the Golden Knights` roster.
It`s natural to speculate on the `what ifs`. Would Marner`s offensive capabilities have boosted the Golden Knights enough for a stronger performance against the Edmonton Oilers in the second round? Could Mikko Rantanen`s blend of physical presence and talent have shifted the balance for Toronto in their series against the Florida Panthers? These are hypothetical scenarios fans of both teams might ponder for some time, as the actual outcome remains unknown.
Since the complex three-way trade didn`t materialize, Rantanen was instead traded to the Dallas Stars in a separate deal that included prospect Logan Stankoven. Marner stayed with Toronto and is now set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Once free agency opens on July 1, all three teams previously involved in discussions could potentially make offers to Marner. As noted after the Maple Leafs` season concluded, keeping the current core players together for a few more seasons, despite recent playoff disappointments, might still be a viable option for Toronto.
The Golden Knights are focused on winning now, and their performance this postseason highlighted a need for more offensive dynamism. Marner, consistently a top scorer (ranking eighth in points over the last four years), certainly fits this need. However, Vegas faces a significant challenge with their salary cap. Acquiring Marner would necessitate shedding substantial salary from their current roster.
Similarly to Vegas, the Hurricanes require more offensive punch to advance further in the playoffs. Marner`s presence would provide the kind of elite playmaking ability that Carolina has appeared to lack, particularly when facing the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
