The deal sees the Golden Knights send Nicolas Roy to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Marner, who will avoid free agency by signing an eight-year, $96 million contract in Vegas. Marner will run the Golden Knights $12 million per year, which is less than some expected him to fetch on the open market.

Nicolas Roy is a solid third-line center who will help the Leafs and represents maybe the best-ever return in a sign-and-trade deal.

The Maple Leafs have dealt forward Mitch Marner, 28, an accomplished goal scorer who just wrapped up a six-year restricted deal in Toronto, to the Vegas Golden Knights on the eve of free agency, sources told ESPN's Emily Kaplan on Monday afternoon.