In a scenario that didn`t come to pass, forward Mitch Marner could have played the recent NHL season in Las Vegas.
According to Sportsnet`s Elliotte Friedman, speaking on Friday`s 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vegas Golden Knights engaged in discussions last summer regarding a potential trade centered around the star player.
However, Friedman emphasized that these trade talks were never considered “realistic.”
During the negotiations, Toronto reportedly expressed interest in acquiring defenseman Shea Theodore, but the Golden Knights were unwilling to part with him.
Friedman quoted the Golden Knights` apparent stance on Theodore, saying, “As I heard they told people, `You wanna watch Shea Theodore? You can buy a ticket to watch him play for us.` And they followed through on their word.”
The 29-year-old Theodore was a member of the Golden Knights` 2023 Stanley Cup championship team. This season, he recorded 57 points, including seven goals and 50 assists, across 67 regular-season games, and also represented Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Adding another layer of complexity, Friedman noted uncertainty regarding whether Marner would have agreed to waive his no-movement clause (NMC) to facilitate a trade to Vegas.
This reported discussion with the Golden Knights is not the first time potential trades involving Marner have been made public.
Following the recent trade deadline, it was reported that Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving inquired with Marner about waiving his NMC for a potential trade that would have sent him to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Mikko Rantanen. Marner reportedly declined that request.
Away from the ice, Marner and his wife, Stephanie, welcomed a baby boy between the first and second rounds of the playoffs.
The 28-year-old forward enjoyed a strong regular season, achieving career highs with 102 points and 75 assists. In the postseason, he added 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 13 games.
With his current contract nearing its end, Marner is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
Tristan Blackwood