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.

Instead of allowing the former Toronto Maple Leafs star to reach the free-agent market on July 1, McCrimmon acted during the NHL draft to secure Marner’s rights and get him signed to a maximum-term contract before any other team couldn't even talk to him.

Mitch Marner is going to Vegas, after the Golden Knights made another major move to add a big-time player, snatching up the top pending free agent before the rest of the NHL got the opportunity. They got Marner in a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs agreed to on Monday and announced early Tuesday.