The NHL off-season has already delivered its fair share of jaw-dropping moments, but few stories have captured the attention of hockey fans quite like Mitch Marner’s dramatic departure from Toronto. After nine seasons as a cornerstone of the Maple Leafs, Marner’s move via sign-and-trade to the Vegas Golden Knights has sent shockwaves through the league and left both fanbases and analysts buzzing with speculation. The Golden Knights, perennial contenders in the Western Conference, wasted no time welcoming Marner into a star-studded lineup alongside the likes of Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, and Adin Hill—instantly boosting their chances of making another deep playoff run.

But what many didn’t know until now is just how close the hockey world came to seeing Marner suit up for a completely different powerhouse. Behind the scenes, the stakes were even higher, as Marner and his camp had a carefully crafted backup plan in case the Vegas deal fell through—one that could have dramatically altered the NHL landscape. As details emerge about the alternative destination that nearly landed one of hockey’s brightest stars, it’s clear that this off-season saga was even more intense than anyone realized. What could have been? The answer might surprise you.

Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Mitch Marner landed with the Vegas Golden Knights via sign-and-trade, and according to reports, he had one other team in mind if things didn’t work out there.

After nine long years, Mitch Marner finally left the Toronto Maple Leafs this off-season in a sign-and-trade, and at this point, it’s fair to say that the Vegas Golden Knights are absolutely thrilled with how things played out.

Marner now joins a team that’s ready to win alongside Mark Stone, Adin Hill and Jack Eichel, and with the Western Conference wide open, this may be their chance to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the third time in franchise history.

However, there was a chance he may not have landed in Vegas, as insider David Pagnotta has revealed Marner’s backup plan in case things didn’t work out with the Golden Knights.

Unsurprisingly, it was one of the other top teams reported to be interested in the former Maple Leafs star, as Pagnotta notes it was the Los Angeles Kings that were likely to land him if he didn’t end up in Sin City.

This explains why the Kings had so much money to spend in free agency, adding Cody Ceci, Brian Dumoulin and Corey Perry among others, as they were likely putting together cap space to land their top line forward of the next decade.

Ultimately though, Vegas once again got the job done and landed the player they wanted to land, and now, they head into the season as a genuine Stanley Cup contender in the West, with the rivalry with the Edmonton Oilers only set to intensify after landing Marner, who is motivated to show the NHL he can do more than what he did in Toronto.