“Wearing the Maple Leaf on my chest wasn’t just about playing for a team, it was about representing my home.”
TORONTO, July 1, 2025 – Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Mitch Marner bid an emotional farewell to Toronto, its fans, and the Maple Leafs organisation on Tuesday following a move few fans saw coming but was in the rumour mill for a few days. The highly skilled winger has been traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for centre Nicolas Roy and a 2026 second-round draft pick. Although Marner was about to test the waters of free agency on July 1, the deal, finalized early Tuesday morning, marks a dramatic shift in the Leafs’ roster construction and a bold new chapter for both franchises.
Marner, a player in his prime at 27, has long been a massive cornerstone of the Leafs and part of their ‘core four.’ He was drafted fourth overall in 2015 producing at a near point-per-game pace over his NHL tenure with the Maple Leafs.
The Toronto native bled blue and white in the city where he was born and raised.
“I’ve had the incredible honour of living out my childhood dream. Wearing the Maple Leaf on my chest wasn’t just about playing for a team, it was about representing my home,” said Marner in a heartfelt post on instagram.
“When I was drafted, all I wanted was to help bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto. That was always the goal, and I came up short…I gave everything I had, but in the end, it wasn’t enough,” added Marner.
Despite his incredible on-ice success, particularly during the regular season, the Leafs have faced repeated postseason disappointment, prompting management to rethink its approach.
“We have a tremendous amount of respect for Mitch and everything he’s done for this organization,” said Leafs GM Brad Treliving. “This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s one we feel gives us better balance, added size down the middle, and more cap flexibility moving forward.”
In return, the Leafs receive 6’4″ centre Nicolas Roy, 27, a versatile two-way forward who played a key role in Vegas’s 2023 Stanley Cup run. While he lacks Marner’s offensive flash, Roy brings a reliable defensive presence and strong playoff pedigree — two elements the Leafs have sorely lacked in recent years.
Vegas, never shy about swinging big, saw an opportunity to add a much-needed skilled winger to play alongside Stone and Eichel, and they believe Marner fits that bill to a T.
“Mitch Marner is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NHL,” said Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon. “We believe his vision, creativity, and compete level will elevate our top-six and power play immediately. He’s a game-changer.”
The deal will polarise Leafs fans, as parting ways with a hometown hero is never easy. But the move signals a clear shift for the Leafs, after firing longtime president Brendan Shanahan and trading Marner. It suggests Toronto is no longer content with regular-season success and flashy stats. They aim for something grittier, tougher, and built for playoff survival. Although we have heard all this before, and this year it looked like everything was going in the right direction until a 7-game run-in with the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers in the second round of the NHL playoffs.
When the initial announcement about the trade was made, Marner also made this initial statement: “Toronto will always be home. I want to thank the fans, the city, and the organization for their support over the years. I’m excited for this next chapter with Vegas and hungry to win.”
Only time will tell if the gamble pays off for the Leafs and the Golden Knights.
by Terry Lankstead
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