Western conference team to trade away top playoff performer to make space for Mitch Marner in free agency

GM Kelly McCrimmon of the Vegas Golden Knights is a bold player when it comes to trades and free agency.

We've seen him deal Stanley Cup winners for nothing (Marc-Andre Fleury), and have sent away the misfits that gave the team their first trip to the Stanley Cup finals (2017-2018).

Now, it appears that more Golden Knights are on their way out of Vegas in a completed trade.

Kelly McCrimmon appears poised to trade forward Tomas Hertl to the Carolina Hurricanes, leaving the possibility for the team to trade center William Karlsson.

If the trade for Hertl with the Carolina Hurricanes goes through, the team will clear $8.13 million in cap space. At the moment, they have $9.165 million available and would give them the kind of money needed to acquire Marner.

In 73 games this season, Hertl posted 61 points (32-29) and could be another Golden Knight dealt in order to help execute McCrimmon's master plan of landing the 102-point scorer.

While Hertl may be a goner, could William Karlsson be on the move as well? Moving him would secure another $5.9 million in cap space to work with and allow them to find a more impactful top-nine winger.

Karlsson has played more like he did in Columbus during his early career, in 53 games, scoring 29 points (9-20) a regression compared to the brilliance we've seen during the start of his career in Vegas.

The pieces are set, but when can we confirm them in motion?

More as the story develops!