Does this new trade proposal with the Maple Leafs help the Vegas Golden Knights?
NHL fans love creating their own trade scenarios to get big-name players. They pretend to be a general manager for a day and try to improve their team, whether it's acquiring Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid for a bag of peanuts on NHL 24. Sometimes, these trades look decent, leaving a good impression on people. Others, not so much. That's why most fans sit on the couch while general managers like Kelly McCrimmon make the big bucks.
See, regular people have grown to be more nit-picky and finicky, not being satisfied with what stands in front of them. They want something done the right way in their eyes. But what looks right to them might not be the case for others. In fact, it might leave them gauging their eyes out from said trade.
The latest trade proposal might fall into this category. It consists of superstar Mitch Marner and defensemen Timothy Liljegren going to the Vegas Golden Knights for William Karlsson and Alex Pietrangelo. It's different from other offerings that featured Shea Theodore and Logan Thompson going to the Maple Leafs for the prolific winger. But with Thompson heading to Washington, that deal falls apart.
But let's go to the original trade idea. Does it have any legs? It might sound good on the surface and help both teams. However, it must be examined further to see if it's actually a good idea. After all, it's rare to see a trade be a complete win-win, especially in today's society of winners and losers. Let's examine the pros and cons of the Golden Knights making this trade.
Why the Vegas Golden Knights and Maple Leafs should make this trade
From a Vegas Golden Knights perspective, the team gets younger with this trade. Timothy Liljegren is only 25 years old, while Mitch Marner is 27 years old. Compare that to Alex Pietrangelo (34 years old) and William Karlsson (31 years old), who will be free agents after the 2026-27 season. It sounds good, doesn't it?
It's something Kelly McCrimmon hasn't shied away from, either. He's moved older pieces like Marc-Andre Fleury in favor of younger stars like Robin Lehner. Other examples include Reilly Smith, who was moved to sign the more youthful Ivan Barbashev to a five-year, $5 million AAV deal.
Thus, it wouldn't be surprising to see this deal happen from that angle. The Golden Knights love younger players, especially one who regularly flirts with 100 points a season. If Vegas is desperate to put out one of the best top lines in the NHL, this could be the trade that puts them over the top.