This past summer, there was a wave of rumors about Mitch Marner being traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Vegas Golden Knights. It's enough to make a bearded lawyer who hates the song, "Y.M.C.A.", have a panic attack.
But there were good reasons behind the rumors. Marner was in the last year of his current deal with the Maple Leafs. Given that they were hard-pressed for cap space with players like Auston Matthews ($13.25 million AAV) and William Nylander ($11.5 million AAV), there was the possibility the winger wasn't returning to the "Core Four".
After all, it'd be hard to sign a guy expected to make more than the current $10.903 million he makes annually. How will the Maple Leafs manage their situation when they have $731,562 to work with now?
On the Golden Knights side, you just lost your franchise player to the bright lights of the Grand Ole Opry. Now, that 5'9" winger is hob-nobbing with Carrie Underwood, singing about guys who cheat. Where, oh where, will Kelly McCrimmon find a right wing star to compliment Jack Eichel?
At first, the consensus was his former teammate, Victor Olofsson. The former Sabres forward had three goals in four games before suffering a lower-body injury this season. However, that role eventually went to Mark Stone, who scored six goals and 15 assists before suffering a lower-body injury himself.
Would the Golden Knights have been much better than they currently are? What about the Maple Leafs? Are they thriving in potentially the last year of the "Core Four?" Wednesday's matchup between both clubs could indicate what could've been, specifically with names like Marner and Shea Theodore front and center.
How the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights are currently doing
The Toronto Maple Leafs are sitting in second place in the Atlantic Division as of Monday. They're one point behind the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, with 24 points. They're 7-2-1 in their last ten games, earning 15 points during that stretch.
Mitch Marner leads the Maple Leafs in points (24) and assists (18). In fact, he's scored points (five goals, 12 assists) in 10 of his last 11 games. The winger has elevated the Maple Leafs offensively, turning them into a regular-season juggernaut. But will that finally translate into postseason success and a Stanley Cup? Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights currently sit in first place in the Pacific Division entering Monday. They have a record of 11-5-2 and 24 points, one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. They're tied for third in goals per game with four and have the second-best (!) power play in the NHL (34.0%).
One of the main trade targets, Shea Theodore, has 12 assists in 17 games this season. He just signed a seven-year, $51.975 million extension to remain with the Golden Knights, meaning he's going nowhere anywhere any time soon.
Other proposed names such as William Karlsson (four goals, five assists in 10 games) and Brayden McNabb (40 blocked shots, 31 hits in 18 games) have also done well. In fact, McNabb earned a contract extension, staying for three more years at $10.95 million.