Daily Nuggets: Golden Knights Free Agent Decisions; Fallen Leafs

Good morning, folks. The Vegas Golden Knights are in offseason mode, and if history has taught us anything, we should know that with this team, when things happen, they happen fast. I hope you’ve enjoyed your respite because soon enough, there will be a flurry of activity.

Elsewhere in the Daily Nuggets, after years of stubbornly refusing to die, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally keeled over. Before the body even hit the ground, the vultures– many of which have been circling since 2019– descended in droves to claim their stake of the spoils. 

That’s the beauty of sports journalism, isn’t it? The Leafs were eliminated on Sunday night, and already, dozens of ‘Could Mitch Marner Make Sense for the [INSERT TEAM HERE!]?’ pieces have been written. And I want to watch the world burn, so I read every single one. 

Okay, quick rant incoming:

I was absolutely miserable on Monday night without any hockey. Thankfully, the Eastern Conference Finals begin tonight; on Wednesday, the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers play Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. We’re down to just one game a night moving forward, but after last night, I’ll take what I can get.

Soon enough, it’ll be one game every other day. And then, there will be nothing until October. What a horrible thought that is.

Okay, that’s enough of that. Let’s talk hockey!

Golden Knights News

It’s time for the Golden Knights to make some big decisions. They have six players on expiring contracts, and even with $9.615 million salary cap space, they can’t afford to keep them all. But that’s a good thing– after fizzling out in the second round, bringing back the same lineup next season would be the definition of insanity.

So, which players should the Golden Knights try to extend? Of the six, only two should return, and one of them is Reilly Smith.

Golden Knights prospect Jonas Røndbjerg shone at the 2025 IIHF World Championships on Saturday. He enjoyed a two-goal game as Denmark cruised to a 6-3 victory over Norway.

NHL News, Rumors, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: Mitch Marner, drafted fourth overall in 2015, is a homegrown talent with 741 in 657 career games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. And yet, scorned by the fans and media alike, Marner is about to walk in Free Agency and never look back. On Monday’s episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman shared his thoughts on the situation in Toronto.

Daily Faceoff: Time’s up. The ‘Core Four’ have had nine opportunities in the postseason; each time, they lost in a way more pathetic than the last. After their most recent failure, will the Toronto Maple Leafs be content with only losing Mitch Marner? Or will they gut their roster completely?

New York Post ($): In the summer of 2018, John Tavares scorned his team in search of greener pastures. Now, the New York Islanders could exact revenge in a truly poetic way: they could sign Mitch Marner.

New York Islanders Hockey Now: John Tavares left Long Island for his hometown, Toronto Maple Leafs, 2,514 days ago. Since then, the Isles have won six seven-game series to Toronto’s two. Somehow, Tavares’ betrayal was a blessing in disguise for the Islanders. 

Philly Hockey Now: While the Islanders take a victory lap at the expense of John Tavares, all other eyes are on Mitch Marner. He’s an elite playmaker, a superstar winger… and he’s set to hit Free Agency on July 1st. There’s no telling where Marner will sign, but going to Philadelphia makes a shocking amount of sense.

Florida Hockey Now: The Carolina Hurricanes are the real winner of the Panthers-Maple Leafs series. The Panthers won Game 7 in Toronto on Sunday; on Tuesday, they’ll play Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final in Raleigh. There’s no rest for these Cats, but I don’t think they mind.

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