Maple Leafs Star Mitch Marner Traded to Vegas Golden Knights in Major NHL Offseason Move

Mitch Marner has been traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Vegas Golden Knights, a major move in the NHL offseason. Marner, who spent nine years with Toronto and ranks fifth all-time in franchise points with 741, signed an eight-year contract extension with Vegas worth twelve million dollars annually. Last season, he recorded a career-high 102 points and was a Selke Trophy finalist in 2023. This acquisition signals Vegas's strong commitment to strengthening their forward lineup. Nicolas Roy was sent to Toronto as part of the trade.

In other notable player movements, Florida Panthers re-signed defenseman Aaron Ekblad to an eight-year, six-point-one million dollar average annual value contract. Ekblad has been a key part of Florida’s blue line, contributing significantly to their two straight Stanley Cup victories. Though his last season was interrupted by a suspension, his skill as a puck-moving defenseman remains highly valued by the Panthers.

Veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo of the Vegas Golden Knights announced he is stepping away from professional hockey due to health reasons. At thirty-five years old, Pietrangelo indicated his body is unlikely to recover to the standard needed to continue competing, marking a significant loss for the Golden Knights’ defensive core.

Other offseason transactions include several trades and contract extensions across the league. Buffalo traded Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan to Utah in exchange for John-Jason Peterka. The Carolina Hurricanes extended Juha Jaaska’s contract for two years, and Jamie Benn re-signed with Dallas on a one-year deal. San Jose waived veteran Marc-Edouard Vlasic for a contract buyout.

Free agency this year features a number of prominent forwards available on the market. Players like Andrei Kuzmenko, who split last season among three teams and posted 37 points, and veteran Brad Marchand, who helped Florida win the Stanley Cup last season, remain unsigned. Marchand, 37 years old, has a prolific career tally with 980 points over eleven hundred games played in the NHL.

The NHL offseason also saw a large number of prospects drafted and moved to new teams, setting the stage for a competitive 2025-26 season. Teams continue to shuffle rosters to balance contracts and prepare for upcoming campaigns.

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