Mitch Marner has settled into life with the Vegas Golden Knights following his blockbuster summer move from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 28-year-old winger signed an eight-year, $96 million contract as part of a sign-and-trade deal that closed the book on his Maple Leafs tenure.
Did the Maple Leafs’ Playoff Loss Seal Mitch Marner’s Fate?
Talk around the NHL is that the last playoff run might have been the moment things turned for Marner and Toronto. According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, Toronto’s second-round loss to the Florida Panthers may have decided Marner’s future with the team. On his “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman shared that if the Maple Leafs had beaten Florida, he believes Marner would likely still be in Toronto.
Even before that loss, there were signals about what might come next. When Marner decided not to sign an extension last summer, some in the organization and locker room saw it as a sign he could eventually leave. By Game 7 of the most recent playoff run, folks around the Maple Leafs quietly understood it might be Marner’s last time in a Toronto sweater.
Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews called Marner’s trade to the Golden Knights a tough one to handle after sharing the ice as linemates for close to 10 years. Speaking at the Hockey Night in Brampton charity game, Matthews described it as “the business side of hockey,” and made sure to point out just how close he and Marner were as friends and teammates.
Other teammates, including William Nylander and Matthew Knies, had spoken up about Marner’s value to the team. Nylander mentioned asking Marner about his plans, and Marner still hoped he would stay in Toronto at the time.
After that playoff exit, though, people noticed a shift in Marner’s approach. Suddenly, the idea of change wasn’t off the table.
With only two playoff series wins to show for nearly 10 years of teamwork, Toronto’s talented core group, Matthews, John Tavares, Nylander, and Marner, felt the heat from fans and management to shake things up. The pressure to change led Marner to be the star who moved.
Vegas had been circling Marner for a while, reportedly making him their top priority. General manager Kelly McCrimmon said the Golden Knights were ready to add him no matter what. With a Stanley Cup win just two years back, Vegas saw Marner as a difference-maker who could help keep their championship hopes alive.
Marner’s Fresh Start in Vegas
Right away, Marner seemed fired up for his new gig in Las Vegas. When he was introduced to the media, he talked about joining a “winning regimen,” shining a light on the Golden Knights’ steady success since joining the league.
Now, the focus in Toronto has shifted to finding someone to fill Marner’s spot on the ice. Matthews will look for a new right wing, with options like Nylander, Easton Cowan, and Matias Maccelli coming up as possible replacements.
Knies even said it will feel “weird” walking into the locker room without Marner around, but he gave a nod to his confidence in the group that remains.
So, with the page turned, Marner starts over in Vegas after nine seasons in his hometown. While Toronto fans look back on his time with both pride and debate, the Golden Knights are betting a $96 million contract that Marner can help keep their dreams of another Cup alive.
