Breaking: The Vegas Golden Knights are closing in on deal to sign Maple Leafs’ $65 Million Forward.

The Vegas Golden Knights are interested in trading for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, according to NHL insider Frank Seravalli. Marner has been the subject of trade rumors since the season ended, but lately, the rumors around the forward who’s entering the final year of the six-year $65.4 million deal, is that Toronto may opt to re-sign him.

But, Seravalli believes Vegas is interested in trading for Marner after missing out on Steven Stamkos in free agency and losing Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson in free agency.

“What happens to Mitch Marner?” To me and many others, the Vegas Golden Knights appear to never give up or stop. “You didn’t get Stamkos, Marchessault, or Stephenson; does that mean you’re targeting Mitch Marner?” Seravalli said on Daily Faceoff’s Live Free Agency Special on July 1.

According to Seravalli, Vegas’ offense has suffered as a result of Marchessault and Stephenson’s free agency departures to Nashville and Seattle. Because of this, the insider believes Vegas will return to the Maple Leafs and try to trade for Marner.

Vegas was not particularly active on the first day of free agency on July 1, but it did lose a few key players.

The Golden Knights saw Marchessault sign a five-year contract with the Nashville Predators worth $5.5 million each season. Marchessault led Vegas in scoring last season, with 69 points. Stephenson then signed a seven-year contract worth $6.25 million per year with the Seattle Kraken.

Forward Michael Amadio, another Golden Knight who left free agency, signed a three-year contract with the Ottawa Senators at $2.6 million per season.

Vegas only signed former Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov for a one-year contract. According to CapFriendly, the Golden Knights’ cap space is little over $6.8 million.

Although Marner has been linked to trade rumors, the talented winger does not have to be shipped.

On June 28, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman stated that Toronto is considering re-signing Marner as they prepare a contract offer for him.

“I’m going to stay away from the hot scalding pot that is Mitch Marner, aside from saying that I do think they’re preparing to make him an offer, we’ll see,” Friedman stated on his 32 Thoughts podcast.

After the Maple Leafs were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, Marner expressed his desire to remain with Toronto.

“That’d be a goal. I’ve expressed my love for this place. Obviously, I’ve grown up here so we’ll start thinking about that now and try to figure something out. It means the world (to be a Maple Leaf), we’re looked upon as, you know, kind of Gods here to be honest,” Marner said to the media on May 6.

“It’s something that you really appreciate and the love that you get here from this fanbase and this tension is kind of not unlike any other. You saw it with the Raptors a couple of years ago, the love that they still have for a lot of those players that they had to trade off this year. And that’s kind of the love you want,” Marner added.

Marner had 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points in 69 regular-season games with Toronto last season.