Toronto Maple Leafs could hit Vegas with tampering charges over Marner saga
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ extended breakup saga with Mitch Marner appears to have hit a new hurdle.
After nine seasons with the blue-and-white, Marner and Toronto appear to be cutting ties, with the two sides barely being on speaking terms since the Leafs’ second-round playoff exit in May.
At the NHL Draft this past weekend, multiple reports suggested that the Leafs and Marner were looking to work out a sign-and-trade for Marner with the Vegas Golden Knights. With Marner set to hit unrestricted free agency on Tuesday, a sign-and-trade would give Vegas the first leg up over the rest of the NHL to land the offseason biggest’s prize.
With star defenceman Alex Pietrangelo set to miss all of next season on long-term injured reserve, a few savvy cap moves might create the space for a player like Marner to wind up in Vegas on a long-term deal.
On the surface, Vegas is a sensible destination for a high-profile free agent like Marner: they’re competitive year-in and year-out, and they’ve never been shy to bring in a bevy of star players in from other markets that have worn out their welcome elsewhere.
But Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman is reporting that Vegas has had their eye on Marner for quite some time, and might have made contact with his camp while he was still under contract with the Leafs.
According to Friedman on an episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast released on Sunday, there is a good chance “the Maple Leafs will go after Vegas for tampering” if Marner ends up in Vegas without a sign-and-trade deal in place.
“There is another reason that I think people are wondering about this. And certain people aren’t going to be happy about this, but I’m going to say it anyway,” Friedman said. “I’m not passing any judgment here on guilty or not guilty of tampering; I have no idea.”
Marner has spent his whole career with the Leafs since being taken fourth overall in the 2015 draft. He put up a career-high 102 points in the regular season this past year, before following that up with 13 points in 13 playoff games. In 657 career games with the Leafs, he’s put up 221 goals and 520 assists.
“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,” Friedman added. “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.”
The Leafs and Vegas had also reportedly spoken at the trade deadline of a three-team trade involving Marner and the Carolina Hurricanes, though that deal obviously fell through.
“Once again, I’m going to stress, I don’t have any proof that Vegas is guilty of anything,” said Friedman. “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.”
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