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Maple Leafs to Go After Golden Knights for Tampering if They Don't Get a Good Return for Marner
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski Imagn Images
The Maple Leafs are reportedly using allegations of tampering against the Vegas Golden Knights as a way to net a greater return for pending free agent Mitch Marner.
On Thursday, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving confirmed what everyone had speculated over the past few months, being that Mitch Marner would be testing free agency.
Reports had surfaced during Day 2 of the Entry Draft on Saturday that the Leafs and Golden Knights were discussing a sign-and-trade for Marner.
At the time, many believed it was solely because Vegas had been rumoured to be the favourite to land the 28-year-old and wanted to get a jump on the competition.
Maple Leafs Leveraging Accusations of Tampering For Higher Return in Mitch Marner Trade
On Sunday's edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, however, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Leafs and Vegas engaged in trade talks as a way for Vegas to make tampering allegations 'go away'.
"There's been some talk that if Marner goes to Vegas, the Maple Leafs will go after Vegas for tampering.
Again, I have no proof that Vegas is guilty of anything, but it's a time around the league where teams are extremely sensitive about it and as a couple of GMs told me on Saturday, they think the NHL is itching to try and make an example out of someone.
Once again, I'm going to stress, I don't have any proof that Vegas is guilty of anything, but if they make a deal with Toronto and send a good player or two to Toronto, I'm betting any chance the Maple Leafs file for tampering goes away."
Again, I have no proof that Vegas is guilty of anything, but it's a time around the league where teams are extremely sensitive about it and as a couple of GMs told me on Saturday, they think the NHL is itching to try and make an example out of someone.
Once again, I'm going to stress, I don't have any proof that Vegas is guilty of anything, but if they make a deal with Toronto and send a good player or two to Toronto, I'm betting any chance the Maple Leafs file for tampering goes away."
This wouldn't be the first time Vegas has come under fire for supposedly circumventing the CBA as their use of LTIR has come into question in recent years and are currently being accused of trying to bend the LTIR rules to open up enough space to acquire Marner.
With the draft now complete, the Leafs and Vegas will be able to focus all of their attention on getting this deal across the finish line.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 29 | 4257 ANSWERS Maple Leafs to Go After Golden Knights for Tampering if They Don't Get a Good Return for Marner Do you think the Leafs and Vegas will end up completing a trade for Mitch Marner? | ||
| Yes | 2927 | 68.8 % |
| No | 1330 | 31.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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