Golden Knights GM Explains Why Vegas Traded for Mitch Marner Early

McCrimmon emphasized two key reasons for the urgency of the deal, citing both the contract length and controlling the situation as much as possible.

“We wanted to do a sign-and-trade with Toronto so we could get the eighth year on the contract,” McCrimmon said. “For us, the eighth year really helped us in terms of what the AAV might be.” 

Had Vegas waited and signed Marner as a free agent, the longest deal allowed would have been seven years, increasing the cap hit (assuming the same $96 million total value) to around $13.7 million per season. The cap hit under the new deal is $12 million per season.

The second reason was avoiding the unpredictability of free agency.

“We didn’t want to be in a position where it’s July 1, we’re making a presentation, three or four other teams are making a presentation, and you never know who can come out of nowhere to win the day,” McCrimmon said. “There are some teams that have $20 million of cap space.”

Vegas previously pursued Marner at the trade deadline in March, but the winger declined to waive his no-trade clause due to his wife's pregnancy.

Once the offseason opened, both sides moved quickly to finalize what McCrimmon called a preferred outcome for all involved, as Marner himself confirmed during his introductory press conference.