The Mitch Marner tampering drama between the Maple Leafs and Golden Knights, explained
Mitch Marner's time with the Toronto Maple Leafs is almost at an end and it seems as if the team wants something in return for him before the start of NHL free agency.
After Maple Leafs bowed out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in embarrassing fashion, again, it's been widely reported that Marner is set to take on free agency as an upcoming unrestricted free agent on July 1. Marner leads practically every NHL free agent big board as the biggest star player on the market who is going to earn well over $10 million a season, so his services are going to be in high demand from teams this July.
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On Saturday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs were in contact with the Vegas Golden Knights in regards to a trade for Marner ahead of free agency. The deal would reportedly be a sign-and-trade, with the Maple Leafs trading Marner to the Golden Knights with a shiny new contract to take him off the market.
While there is no trade in place as of Sunday afternoon, the two sides are reportedly still talking and discussing the possibility before Tuesday. However, Friedman threw in quite a wrinkle to this story on Sunday morning on his podcast, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. According to Friedman's reporting, the Maple Leafs are considering filing for tampering against the Golden Knights if Marner signs with Vegas in free agency.
"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."
This news leaking ahead of July 1 absolutely feels like the Maple Leafs are putting pressure on the Golden Knights to make a trade ahead of free agency. Given their situation, Toronto has extremely little leverage here to get a deal done before Tuesday. Marner is walking away from the Maple Leafs on July 1 anyway, so the entire NHL knows they have a leg up on Toronto in a deal before then.
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With this maneuver, the Maple Leafs seemingly gain a bit of leverage against the Golden Knights as they look for a better return than what was likely originally offered to them. According to NHL insiders, the Maple Leafs are looking at acquiring both Nicolas Roy and Nicolas Hague in this deal in an effort to get more fair value for Marner.
That being said, will the Maple Leafs actually file for tampering if Marner signs with the Golden Knights in free agency and would the NHL actually levy punishment on them for it? Honestly, it's hard to say. The NHL is extremely sensitive to tampering after having to remind teams about the rules back in the fall of 2024. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly was reportedly "uncomfortable" with reports of teams and players agreeing to contracts before free agency officially opened in years past.
As for the potential penalties the Golden Knights could face if found for tampering, it's a pretty hefty list which would include — at the very least — a termination of the signed contract. That plus the forfeiture of draft picks and the "offended" club getting compensation in return makes it clear that tampering a major no-no in today's NHL.
Will this make Vegas think twice about acquiring Marner in free agency if this sign-and-trade falls through? Given the Golden Knights have a ruthless reputation for business, I'd have to say they'll still press their luck to get the best player on the market even with the potential risk. Plus, of course, all NHL teams tamper to some degree during this period and we all know it happens considering how many deals get inked immediately upon the start of free agency.
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However, this story absolutely ups the drama surrounding the start of the NHL's free agent period in the most delicious way possible.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Mitch Marner tampering drama between Maple Leafs and Golden Knights, explained
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