The future of Jonathan Marchessault in Vegas is not clear
Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Review-Journal: Graney writes that the Vegas Golden Knights have decisions to make regarding several of their pending unrestricted free agents. The roster includes Anthony Mantha, Chandler Stephenson, William Carrier, Alec Martinez, and Jonathan Marchessault.
NHL Rumors: Vegas Has Tough Decision on Jonathan Marchessault
Marchessault is coming off a six-year contract worth $30 million with a $5 million salary cap hit. He is one of the original Golden Misfits and a fan favorite. Marchessault is coming off a career-best 42-goal season.
We know the Golden Knights aren’t afraid to make tough decisions on salary cap issues. Vegas has moved on from players, especially Marc-Andre Fleury. So GM Kelly McCrimmon isn’t afraid to walk Marchessault.
Marchessault wants to stay in Vegas, but he knows it’s a business and not everyone comes back, like Vegas did at the trade deadline for Tomas Hertl. There is only so much money that can go around.
Trading Mitch Marner Makes Sense for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Sportsnet’s Luke Fox: Fox writes with the season ending with another disappointing loss to the Boston Bruins, it’s time for Maple Leafs management to take a long, hard look at what holes this team needs to fill.
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs Finally Ready to Move to Core Four?
The way to solve many problems is to trade Mitch Marner’s skills. Marner is completing the final year of his contract and is eligible to sign an extension on July 1st. However, the message is clear: the structure of the program must change, so an extension is out of the question.
Winning this trade will be difficult for GM Brad Treliving, but he could get a goaltender like Nashville’s Juuse Saros or a defenseman like Chicago’s Seth Jones.
Marner controls the narrative with a no-movement clause, but it’s clear that they would have traded Marner and used cap dollars wisely to improve the Maple Leafs.
