Top NHL Insider Confirms Vegas Turned Down a Blockbuster Trade Offer From the Leafs
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski | Imagn Images
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Maple Leafs tried to acquire Shea Theodore last season, with the Vegas Golden Knights rejecting the deal.
During his media availability on Thursday, Leafs GM Brad Treliving addressed where things stand with Mitch Marner. In doing so, he also did not confirm that the Leafs would even be offering the star winger a contract ahead of July 1st.
At this point, it would be a shock to everyone if Marner re-signed with the Leafs, with reports indicating that the 28-year-old has a couple of destinations in mind outside of Toronto.
One of those destinations is the Vegas Golden Knights, who, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, held discussions with the Leafs last off-season about a potential deal.
"There's a lot of rumours about Marner and Vegas... I do believe, on some level last year, the Maple Leafs and Vegas talked about a trade... I think there were two reasons it never got close.
Number one, Toronto was interested in Shea Theodore and the Golden Knights were not interested in trading him... The second thing is, there was no guarantee Marner was going to agree to anything."
Number one, Toronto was interested in Shea Theodore and the Golden Knights were not interested in trading him... The second thing is, there was no guarantee Marner was going to agree to anything."
The Golden Knights are known for making big splashes in free agency and at the trade deadline, so it is no surprise that they attempted to land Marner. Unfortunately, the Leafs were unable to persuade Vegas to relinquish Theodore, which would have solved a number of problems on the Leafs' blueline.
Mitch Marner May Have Accepted a Trade to Vegas if Asked
The Fourth Period's Dave Pagnotta discussed the Vegas/Leafs trade last off-season during locker cleanout day last week on 'Leafs Morning Take', confirming that Vegas was one of a handful of teams that inquired about Marner.
"Vegas was one of them -- they couldn't get there. I believe Vegas was a team he would've waived to."
It's unfortunate the Leafs and Vegas couldn't agree on a deal last year, but it could mean that Vegas is willing to pay up this time around to land Marner in a sign-and-trade and allow the Leafs to recoup a fair return given Vegas' cap constraints.
As June approaches, a decision on Marner's future is just around the corner.
| POLL | ||
MAI 30 | 4904 ANSWERS Top NHL Insider Confirms Vegas Turned Down a Blockbuster Trade Offer From the Leafs Has Vegas become the front-runner to land Mitch Marner? | ||
| Yes | 3268 | 66.6 % |
| No | 1636 | 33.4 % |
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