The Mitch Marner Effect: How one decision put Vegas and Carolina on a Stanley Cup Final path

Mitch Marner was at the epicenter of it. Marner was nearing the end of his contract with Toronto, and all signs pointed to him not re-signing. Carolina had just acquired fellow pending free agent Mikko Rantanen from Colorado in a three-way trade in late January, and after several weeks it was also clear that would not be a long-term relationship.