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Mitch Marner Open to Leaving Maple Leafs for the Vegas Golden Knights

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 27, 2025 8:27 PM ET

Mitch Marner is seemingly set to leave the Toronto Maple Leafs this off-season, and now, it's been revealed that he may be set to join the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Toronto Maple Leafs once again fell early in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and as a result, it appears as though veteran forward Mitch Marner is set for free agency where he may become one of the NHL's highest paid players.

Despite all of the criticism of him as a player, Marner had a fantastic regular season, posting 102 points in a career best season, and as a result, he's expected to draw interest from almost every team in the NHL that could afford $12.5 million or more this off-season.

Now, a potential favourite has emerged, as the Vegas Golden Knights are firming as favourites to land the 28-year old superstar, and given how aggressive GM Kelly McCrimmon and the organization have been since arriving in the NHL, this should come as absolutely no surprise.

To do so however, the team would likely have to move out a veteran like Mark Stone with some assets attached to take the final two years of his deal, but if that happens, Marner could be the perfect replacement for Jonathan Marchessault, whose production didn't quite get replicated in 2024/25 after leaving last summer for the Nashville Predators.

On top of that, Marner would be departing Canada for a state in Nevada that would be a lot better on taxes for him, and while other teams in that same position like Florida could show interest, Vegas make perfect sense for Marner.

Ultimately, it appears as though Marner is on the way out, and with how much the Golden Knights want to win a Stanley Cup and how aggressive they've been, if they don't land Marner, it won't be for a lack of trying.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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