Maple Leafs trade Mitch Marner to Golden Knights

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TORONTO – Mitch Marner both dazzled and frustrated Maple Leafs fans across nine roller-coaster seasons.

The local kid dreamt of pulling on the Original Six franchise’s blue-and-white jersey and starring under his hometown’s intense spotlight.

Now he’s exiting stage left, his long march out the door complete.

The Leafs officially shipped the skilled winger to the Vegas Golden Knights for centre Nicolas Roy on Tuesday in a sign-and-trade deal that brings an end to Marner’s time in Toronto — and the so-called “Core 4” that was never able to get the club over its playoff hump.

Marner, 28, agreed to an eight-year, US$96-million extension with his now-former team before the swap was completed. He would have only been able to sign a seven-year contract on the NHL’s open market had he hit unrestricted free agency at noon ET.

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The Leafs also announced Tuesday they have re-signed pending restricted free agency forward Matthew Knies to a six-year, $46.5-million extension — a deal that was widely reported over the weekend.

The 22-year-old Phoenix product registered 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 points in his second full NHL season playing on the top line alongside Marner and Auston Matthews.

Roy, who’s heading into the final year of a contract that pays him $3 million annually, had 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) in 71 games last season. The native of Amos, Que., has put up 166 points (68 goals, 98 assists) in 369 career regular-season games.

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The 28-year-old Roy has 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 79 playoff games, including the 11 he produced as part of the Knights’ victory in the 2023 Stanley Cup final.

Arguably the most talented local player to ever don Leafs colours, Marner had exceptional regular-season success alongside a four-headed star forward group made up of Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares.

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He registered 102 points in 2024-25 and hit 90 on three other occasions thanks to incredible vision, on-ice smarts and a magical set of hands. All told, Marner had 741 points (221 goals, 520 assists) in 657 regular-season games, where he excelled at both ends of the rink.

Apart from breathtaking offensive ability, Marner also took care of his own zone and was a key penalty killer, finishing seventh in Selke Trophy voting this season as the league’s top defensive forward.

The playoffs, however, were a stunningly different story.

Marner, who inked a six-year contract extension with Toronto worth more than $65 million in September 2019, became the focus among a rabid fan base in the game’s biggest media market for the team’s post-season shortfalls.

The No. 4 pick at the 2015 draft produced 63 points (13 goals, 50 assists) in 70 playoff contests, but the Leafs made the second round just twice in his nine seasons.

In Games 5, 6 and 7 from 2017 through 2025, Marner scored just once and added 10 assists in 26 contests.

There was, however, plenty of blame to be shared as the Leafs managed just two wins in 11 series in the Matthews-Marner era. Toronto has lost all six Game 7s it’s played since 2018, but also fell to the eventual Cup winner or runner-up five times.

Marner’s last contract — a pact negotiated by former team president Brendan Shanahan and general manager Kyle Dubas that pushed him close to an annual compensation of $11 million — included a full no-movement clause over its final two seasons.

It’s believed Toronto attempted to deal Marner to the Carolina Hurricanes for fellow star forward Mikko Rantanen ahead of the March 2025 trade deadline, but he blocked the move. It’s also been widely reported that he declined to negotiate with current GM Brad Treliving on a contract extension throughout the 2024-25 season.

Asked point-blank if he wished to stay with the Leafs following May’s second-round playoff exit when Toronto fell in seven games to the Florida Panthers — a group that would go on to hoist its second straight Stanley Cup — it was what Marner didn’t say that spoke volumes.

“I’ve always loved my time here, I’ve loved being here,” he said at the time. “I’ve been so grateful.”

Marner’s bags now packed, Sin City awaits.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2025.