The Mitch Marner sweepstakes could end before free agency begins.
According to several reports, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights are discussing a potential sign-and-trade, seeing Toronto send Marner's rights to Vegas in exchange for a roster player.
"Something to keep an eye: on-and-off this week, Toronto and Vegas have been discussing the possibility of a sign-and-trade involving Mitch Marner," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday afternoon.
"Likelihood of it happening: hard to say. But talks have occurred and continue to do so."
Friedman added that he believes forward Nic Roy, who's entering the fourth year of a five-year, $15 million contract, which carries a $3 million annual average value, signed with the Golden Knights in 2022.
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If it is indeed Roy coming to Toronto, he scored 15 goals and 16 assists in 71 games with the Golden Knights last season. The 6-foot-4 forward also tallied two goals and two assists in 11 playoff games.
Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving spoke on Thursday ahead of the draft, revealing that Marner would likely be testing free agency on July 1. Marner had a career year with Toronto, scoring 27 goals and 75 assists in 81 games, plus two goals and 11 assists in 13 playoff games.
"I'd probably describe it, unless there's a significant change here," Treliving said, "I would anticipate that he's going to hit the market, and we'll see where things go."
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John Tavares signed a four-year, $17.52 million contract with an annual average value of $4.38 million on Friday afternoon and was asked about Marner, a teammate of Tavares since he joined the organization in 2018.
"I think the world of Mitchie, first and foremost, as a person. It's a great friendship that's developed. We've also had a great chemistry from the times that we played together throughout our time here playing. If he does end up leaving, it's a very difficult player and person to replace, and what he brings to the team on and off the ice," said Tavares on Friday.
'You've Got To Move Forward If That Happens': Maple Leafs' John Tavares Reacts To Possibility Of Losing Mitch Marner In Free AgencyAlthough John Tavares might be holding onto a glimmer of hope that Mitch Marner returns to the Toronto Maple Leafs, he's being realistic about the situation.
"So it's obviously going to be up to Tre and the club to find their way and how they go about that. It's obviously unique in that, it's difficult when you possibly could lose a player like Mitchie and what he brings, but you've got to move forward if that's what happens. What available is to the club, is dollars that wouldn't have been allocated there if Mitchy does stay."
(Top photo of Marner: James Guillory / Imagn Images)