Mitch Marner Joins the Vegas Golden Knights in Pursuit of Success
Mitch Marner, after nine seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, embarks on a new stage in his career. His goal: to conquer the Stanley Cup, a desire he has pursued since his arrival in the NHL. Now, as a brand new member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Marner seeks to achieve the glory that escaped him in Toronto. The player, considered one of the most sought after in the NHL free agency, arrives in Las Vegas with the firm intention of winning.The transfer was finalized through a signing and exchange agreement with the Maple Leafs before the start of free agency on July 1st. The Golden Knights sent center Nic Roy to Toronto, and Marner signed an 8-year, $93 million contract, with an annual cap hit of $12 million, the highest on the team. Marner’s departure from Toronto ended a stage marked by ups and downs. Selected in the fourth overall position in 2015, he became a key player alongside Auston Matthews. His charisma and integral play made him a fan favorite. Marner ranks fifth in franchise history with 741 points, the product of 221 goals and 520 assists in 657 regular season games. “Mitch will be remembered as one of the greats of the Leafs. The statistics prove it,” commented Brad Treliving, general manager of Toronto. However, the affection of the fans towards Marner waned in Toronto. Difficult contract negotiations and the lack of success in the playoffs, where the team did not advance past the second round during his time with the Leafs, generated criticism. His points-per-game average in the postseason (0.90) was lower than in the regular season (1.13). “Obviously, we didn’t win. We didn’t achieve what we wanted,” Marner said about the Maple Leafs. “I appreciate the opportunity to wear the Maple Leafs jersey, but now, as a family man and father, we were ready to look for a new place to grow.” Marner revealed that he considered the possibility of going to Vegas during the NHL trade deadline. The Leafs presented him with a proposal to play on another team, rumored to be the Carolina Hurricanes, but Marner rejected it due to a no-movement clause in his contract. Treliving acknowledged that the Maple Leafs tried to trade Marner.“I want to be in a place where I can win. That’s the main goal. I want to lift the Stanley Cup. This team has shown that they can do it. I’m lucky to be able to help bring it here,” Marner stated about the Golden Knights, champions in 2023.
Mitch Marner
