The Toronto Maple Leafs recently explored trading star winger Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in a complex three-team deal that would have also involved the Carolina Hurricanes.

The recent NHL Draft Combine generated excitement with discussions about potential trades, including the significant near-deal involving Marner.

As the Maple Leafs face the challenge of replacing Marner, this summer promises to be eventful for the franchise as they navigate the implications of his impending free agency.

Marner, coming off a career-high season with 27 goals and 102 points, is poised for a significant salary increase as he enters free agency.

However, the trade discussions fell through, leaving Marner, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2025, still with the Maple Leafs.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are also in the market for an elite playmaker like Marner to boost their playoff performance against top Eastern Conference teams.

The Golden Knights are among the top contenders for Marner, but they will need to clear salary cap space to pursue him effectively, potentially by trading veteran forward William Karlsson.

During the trade talks, it remains unclear how advanced the negotiations were or if Marner was asked to waive his no-move clause, which he ultimately exercised to veto a potential trade to Carolina.

Despite his impressive performance, Marner's absence from the Golden Knights could have hindered their playoff advancement, as they were eliminated in the second round without reaching the Western Conference Final since their Stanley Cup win in 2023.

The Hurricanes recently traded Mikko Rantanen to the Dallas Stars for Logan Stankoven and additional first-round picks, while having over $28 million in cap space to potentially sign Marner.

If pursued aggressively, Marner could become the highest-paid player in the NHL, reflecting the high stakes involved in his potential free agency.

Karlsson, who has a $5.9 million cap hit, is being considered for trade as a strategic move to facilitate an offer for Marner.