Maple Leafs Top Prospect Sees Opportunity in Mitch Marner's Exit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With Mitch Marner now in Vegas, top Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan sees a shift in the team's lineup and a chance to move forward in his career.

TORONTO -- Mitch Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The 28-year-old forward, who could have become an unrestricted free agent, signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with Toronto prior to the trade. It has an average annual value of $12 million.

NHL free agency has arrived, and that means teams around the league will be looking to make upgrades to their rosters for the 2025-26 season. Many teams have already taken care of business before July 1 by re-signing key players to extensions.