Why the Golden Knights must make this trade now
With Jonathan Marchessault gone and Steven Stamkos joining him in Nashville, the Golden Knights need a top-line player. Why must they acquire this elite player?
It's funny how things can suddenly change for a team. Less than 24 hours ago, there were people worried about Jonathan Marchessault leaving the Vegas Golden Knights. He was still around, only that he didn't have a deal yet. The deadline passes for Marchessault to get a contract extension and he goes to Nashville for five years and an AAV of $5.5 million. Now, he's got his cowboy boots on as he heads to Tennessee.
As a result, Golden Knights fans weren't having a good Monday (usually, they're not fun to begin with). One of the most cherished "Golden Misfits" was gone, with the Conn Smythe winner heading to the country capital of the world. So Kelly McCrimmon had a backup plan: Go after Steven Stamkos.
Sadly, that didn't work, either. Stamkos followed Marchessault to Nashville and signed a four-year deal with a $8 million AAV. Free agency was cruel to Vegas, for most big names were scooped up within a few hours. Suddenly, the team looks much worse and fans are panicking. What will they do to remedy the situation? Run to a corner and cry?
Luckily, there is one major player that still looms large for the Vegas Golden Knights. He's a superstar looking to be a long-term piece for a team, whether with the Toronto Maple Leafs or someone else. Of course, Mitch Marner is being talked about here. Vegas should monitor the situation closely and see what comes from it. If Marner accepts the offer given by Toronto, then move on. But if it's no bueno, then Kelly McCrimmon has a chance to redeem himself.
Previously, there was a piece about why the Golden Knights should pass on Marner. However, that beloved "Misfit" is heading to Nashville, leaving a top-line void. Therefore, it's time to look into the contrary and see why Vegas should pursue a trade for the Maple Leafs megastar.
Mitch Marner is statistically better than Jonathan Marchessault
No disrespect to the "Original Misfit," but Mitch Marner would be a major top-line upgrade from Jonathan Marchessault. He's younger (Marchessault is 33, while Marner is 27) and bigger (6'0" compared to Marchessault being 5'9"), where he's more versatile. The first line has a massive opening with the former Conn Smythe winner gone, so the Maple Leafs superstar should fit right in.
Also, the stat lines skew favorably towards the right winger. The "Original Misfit" had 417 points during his Vegas tenure, consisting of 192 goals and 225 assists. Meanwhile, Toronto's star player scored 578 points since 2017-18 (175 goals, 403 assists). That includes three seasons with 90+ points. While Marchessault has been a valuable asset for the Golden Knights, Marner would be a younger upgrade.
Yes, the "Misfit" is much better in the postseason than the three-time All-Star, with 75 points compared to 46 postseason points. However, there's no denying the right winger would benefit from a veteran group that won the Stanley Cup. Compare that to Toronto, who's lucky to barely get out of the first round.
The Golden Knights power play would benefit greatly
On that note, Jonathan Marchessault had 103 power play points since Vegas's inaugural season. While that sounds nice, Mitch Marner had 174 power play points since 2017-18. That's a considerable jump that should have Kelly McCrimmon's attention.
That's especially true with the unit struggling historically. A lifetime average of 19.6% won't cut it in today's NHL, specifically with teams like Edmonton and Florida making this year's Stanley Cup Final. Vegas's best season was 22%, which is still an unimpressive number.
As for Marner, his worst season with the man advantage was the shortened 2020-21 campaign. Here, he scored 14 points, which would be a good number on the Golden Knights. Why not go after a younger winger who can make plays and make the unit better?
He might be seen as more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. However, Marner's special teams acumen makes him elite. That's accompanied by a high hockey IQ, where he knows what play is coming next. Such qualities are cherished by NHL teams, specifically the Vegas Golden Knights.
Time for the Vegas Golden Knights to truly go all-in
Going all-in on your contention window means acquiring one more big piece. That player can pair with Jack Eichel on the top line, setting up ridiculous give-and-go's and rushes. Vegas acquired Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl in March, so one more should help. That's where Mitch Marner comes in, for he's another great offensive piece for a starved team.
But there's more to his game than simply being one of Toronto's "Core Four" stars. He's excellent on the forecheck, creating takeaways and playing with a 200-ft. game. There's also the intelligence aspect that makes him lethal. The right winger sees two plays ahead of his opponents, setting up the next scoring opportunity easily.
Plus, he can play on both special teams units and is heading into his prime years. He'll be a valuable piece for Bruce Cassidy to coach, especially as an elite player. Imagine him and Eichel going up the ice for a game-winning goal. Not many teams would want to face the duo on the ice.
If McCrimmon and the Golden Knights are serious about winning another Stanley Cup, they must acquire Marner's services quickly. The team has a massive hole on the top line, which could be filled by a superstar of his caliber. Otherwise, those big moves will be all for naught.
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