As speculation grows about Mitch Marner’s future with the Toronto Maple Leafs, two Western Conference teams have emerged as potential destinations this offseason: the Anaheim Ducks and the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas stands out as a particularly strong candidate, especially with reports suggesting the Leafs and Golden Knights explored a Marner trade during the past season.
Anaheim Ducks Willing to Spend for Marner?
NHL insider Frank Seravalli has highlighted Anaheim as a team worth watching in the Marner sweepstakes. With over $30 million in cap space this summer, the Ducks are reportedly open to making a major financial commitment to land a star player. Anaheim could also offer Marner more privacy compared to Toronto’s high-pressure media environment.
While the Ducks’ rebuilding phase and youthful roster may not attract every top-tier veteran, Seravalli mentioned that they might be among the few teams prepared to extend a massive offer—possibly even around $15 million. If Marner chose Anaheim, it would likely be for the financial reward and low-profile setting.
Golden Knights Remain a Prime Contender
On the other hand, if Marner is focused on winning, the Golden Knights present a more appealing option, whether via a sign-and-trade deal or a splashy free-agent move. Multiple insiders have linked Marner to Vegas, suggesting he may have been open to waiving his no-movement clause for them as early as last offseason. Despite tight cap space, the Golden Knights have built a reputation for aggressive moves, acquiring big names like Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo in recent years.
“They’ve made bold moves every season since joining the league,” Seravalli noted. “You can’t count them out when it comes to landing stars.”
Elliotte Friedman shared on the 32 Thoughts podcast that Toronto and Vegas had trade talks last summer involving Marner. The Leafs were reportedly interested in Shea Theodore, but Vegas refused to include their top defenseman.
“They told other teams, ‘If you want to see Shea Theodore, buy a ticket—he’s staying here,’” Friedman recalled.
Those trade talks eventually died down due to Theodore’s non-availability and uncertainty about Marner’s willingness to waive his clause. Now, with Marner’s exit looking more likely and Vegas eager to bounce back from a disappointing season while needing to manage their cap, it remains unclear what might unfold between these two franchises.
