As the NHL offseason heats up, the Vegas Golden Knights find themselves at the center of swirling trade rumors and bold roster maneuvers. With superstar Mitch Marner’s free agency looming large over the league, Vegas is reportedly emerging as a leading destination for the dynamic forward.

However, the path to acquiring Marner is anything but straightforward, as the Golden Knights must first navigate the complexities of their salary cap situation. Recent reports suggest that the team is actively seeking a trade partner for Tomas Hertl, whose sizable contract could be the key to unlocking the cap space needed for a marquee signing.

The Carolina Hurricanes have been linked as a potential landing spot for Hertl, adding another layer of intrigue to the offseason drama. While nothing is set in stone, and Hertl’s contract gives him some control over his next move, the possibility of swapping him out for a player of Marner’s caliber has fans and analysts alike buzzing with anticipation. With so much at stake and multiple teams involved, all eyes are on Vegas as they look to reshape their roster and make a major splash in the coming weeks.

Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Vegas Golden Knights are looking for a buyer for Tomas Hertl as the team tries to shed his cap in anticipation of free agency; more specifically, Mitch Marner.

With all the talk and rumors about where Mitch Marner is going to sign, we’ve heard a lot of rumblings about the Vegas Golden Knights being not only a top contender, but the frontrunner for the superstar forward.

However they do have some contracts to get rid of first, and while they have talked about names like William Karlsson, or even using Alex Pietrangelo’s injury as cap relief, one name has popped up that might make things quite interesting.

Vegas and Carolina trying to work out Tomas Hertl trade: Cam Robinson

According to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, there has been news that Carolina has some interest in Vegas’ Tomas Hertl, which gives the Hurricanes an offensive presence that they need, while also helping Vegas clear a decent chunk of cap space.

Robinson was clear to reiterate that this was just smoke and nothing was concrete as of yet.

Hertl also has a modified contract that allows him to select up to three teams he is willing to be traded to and that as of now, the Hurricanes have not yet presented a deal for Hertl.

Vegas swaps Tomas Hertl for Mitch Marner: Potential game changer

It would be a very shrewd bit of business from Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon, considering he would be getting out of the remainder of Hertl’s $65.10-million dollar deal he signed in 2022.

In his time in so far in Vegas, Hertl wasn’t exactly the presence that the team had hoped for since coming over from San Jose, and while he did put up a solid 61-point campaign this season; his defense took a massive hit.

Owed $8.137-million for the next four years, he would be able to slide into the Hurricanes lineup and be able to solidify their top-six for the next several years; they already have guys like Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis locked up for the foreseeable future.

But taking out Hertl and swapping him for a player of Marner’s caliber, coupled with the talent the Knights already have makes them even better.

Hertl is a great player no doubt, and is as reliable and consistent as any player, but Marner is a special type of player who doesn’t come around too often, and if you can get a chance to bring him on; there’s few who could argue he wouldn’t be an improvement.