It is the proper transfer for a Golden Knights crew that not solely at all times makes successful a precedence, but in addition at all times finds a option to land the subsequent massive star it doesn’t matter what its wage cap scenario appears like. They at all times discover a approach. It is virtually as if the wage cap is only a suggestion for them and never one thing that limits their spending.
If there’s a big-name participant accessible, you will be positive the Golden Knights are going to be in on them and possibly get them.
They managed to tug it off lately with the likes of Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, Alex Pietrangelo, Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin. They did it once more right here with Marner. And the style wherein all got here collectively for them was classic Golden Knights magic.
For one, including an elite-scoring winger was an enormous want for the Golden Knights coming into the offseason, and Marner was by far the perfect one accessible.
Second, they had been in a position to get a rival crew — on this case, Nashville — to take a participant that was about to get overpaid (defenseman Nicolas Hague) off of their palms to shed some wage.
By buying and selling Roy to Toronto as a part of the sign-and-trade, in addition they trimmed away a further $3M.
However the greatest a part of the sequence was Pietrangelo, who remains to be owed $8.8M per yr over the subsequent two years, stepping away from hockey as a result of a hip concern that will finish his profession. By placing his contract on LTIR, mixed with the departures of Hague and Roy, the Golden Knights all of a sudden had the wage cap house accessible so as to add the highest free agent in the marketplace.
It at all times appears to work out this manner for the Golden Knights, whether or not by some stroke of excellent luck or by design.
It’ll more than likely occur once more when it comes time to re-sign Eichel to a brand new contract in some unspecified time in the future over the yr.
As for what it means from a hockey standpoint, Marner is a large add as a result of he is likely one of the finest playmakers and point-producers within the league whereas additionally enjoying a greater defensive sport than he generally will get credit score for. The query goes to be whether or not or not he can translate that success over to the postseason and in massive video games, one thing that was a relentless downside for him throughout his time with the Maple Leafs. He additionally appeared to turn into the scapegoat for Toronto’s continued failures within the playoffs.
Possibly getting a recent begin away from the strain cooker that’s the Toronto hockey market will assist him. Possibly enjoying for a franchise that has truly gained one thing and located postseason success on this period may also give him a lift.
It will likely be fascinating to observe all of it play out over the subsequent few years. Vegas not solely has a monitor report of getting the big-name stars, it additionally has a monitor report for locating success with them.
