Happy "Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights Speculation" season to everyone who celebrates! The suspense is killing everyone, with a big move coming in the next month. The NHL's biggest free agent will hit the market and the speculation will ramp up to a fever pitch.
Along the way, endless amounts of "Mitch Marner to [Insert Favorite Team Here]" articles are already popping up. It's bringing the hype to a crescendo, certifying the "Core Four" member as a bona fide star. Imagine if Wayne Gretzky (in his prime, of course) hit free agency in the modern social media period.
But I know what you're probably thinking:
"Jacob, you wonderful wizard of hockey knowledge! When does the NHL free agency period start? When can we put these rumors between Marner and the Golden Knights to rest?"
Well, dear reader. I have answers to give you. If you're already tired of hearing about the endless amounts of speculation, you've come to the right place. Get your Sharpies and mark the following date on those calendars. It's time to see when the madness starts.
When does 2025 NHL free agency officially start?
The official start to NHL free agency is at noon ET on July 1st. Sometimes, deals get announced before the deadline. However, those are processed at the start of the deadline to coincide with the new NHL season.
Last season, the Vegas Golden Knights had a relatively quiet free agency period. They signed players such as Victor Olofsson (one year, $1.075 million), Ilya Samsonov (one year, $1.8 million), and Tanner Pearson (one year, $775,000).
Will this offseason be different? Stay tuned. But one thing's certain. Don't ever count out Kelly McCrimmon on a big deal.