The NHL off-season has officially arrived. Over the next two weeks, anticipate a firehose of personnel changes across the league — starting with the 2025 draft on June 27 in Los Angeles, and peaking with the opening of unrestricted free agency on July 1.

A rising salary cap and steady trade chatter positions most teams, buyers and sellers alike, to get active in this window. And while we are heavy in the speculation phase right now, allow me to focus on two potential moves that could immediately shake up the NHL’s Western Conference.

Toronto forward Mitch Marner signing in Vegas? Vancouver and Edmonton working out a trade for goaltender Thatcher Demko? I see both as extremely viable right now. Let’s talk through them both. 

Anytime a superstar is even remotely available, assume the Golden Knights will bid them up.

Vegas has proven time and again they will chase star power, and while Toronto hasn’t closed the door on a Marner return, you have to imagine there is significant pressure in the Maple Leafs organization to genuinely reset the makeup of the lineup — to say nothing of the sure to be astronomical contractual ask from Marner off a career-high 102-point season.

If Marner hits free agency, rest assured any contender with cap space will be making an immediate phone call to his camp. But Vegas offers several things that may put them in pole position: setting aside the salary, Vegas is a perennial contender with a proven track record of winning, with veteran players at every level.

Need a defensively insulating winger on Marner’s line? Here is Mark Stone. Need an elite centre to make Marner’s attacking skill from the wing shine? Few compare to Jack Eichel. And speaking of Eichel: has there been a bigger example in the last decade of a player’s image being........

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