A Maple Leaf No More, But a Knight Once Again

The moment that has been on everyone's mind since May 18th, the day the Toronto Maple Leafs lost 6-1 and the Panthers moved on to the Stanley Cup finals, has finally arrived. That night was a defining moment as the Leafs skated off the ice listening to the boos of their hometown fans knowing their season had just come to an end. 

Mitch Marner has been traded to the Las Vegas Golden Knights.  

Mitch Marner was the fourth overall pick of the 2015 draft. Since his NHL debut wearing #16, he has made his mark as a Leaf. He has produced 741 points ( 221 goals and 520 assists), which ranks him fifth all-time in franchise history. This past season, he reached his career high of 102 points during the regular season, followed up by 13 points in 13 Stanley Cup games(2 goals and 11 assists). After Marner signed a $10 million AAV 6-year deal in 2019, his future with the Leafs beyond that was never far behind. 

Before the NHL, Mitch Marner played three seasons (2013-2016) in the OHL as a London Knight. Marner helped lead them to a Memorial Cup in 2016. He produced 44 points ( 16 goals, 28 assists) in 18 playoff games, following up an incredible performance with another; he had 14 points (2 goals, 12 assists) in four Memorial Cup games. He was named the Memorial Cup Most Valuable Player and the CHL’s Most Outstanding Player of the Year. In honour of his favourite player, who wore #93, Doug Gilmour, and to honour the birth year of his older brother, Marner wore 93 in his OHL years. After Doug Gilmour retired in 2003, the Leafs retired his number in October 2016, forcing Mitch Marner to change his number to 16. 

First overall pick Auston Matthews of the 2016 draft and current Captain of the Leafs has made a connection like no other on the ice with Mitch Marner.  The duo made new waves and gave this team a new energy since they were drafted, unfortunately, they had fallen short one too many times despite their chemistry. 

“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,” says Mitch Marner in his goodbye to the Leafs.

The 16 & 34 magic was something special. They broke records, overcame injuries, and obstacles. The connection was like no other, although, due to injuries over the last couple of seasons, they had been forced to find that connection elsewhere. Some could say there was a bit of foreshadowing when they were switched off of each other's lines and had to make that same spark ignite with other linemates. 

The 2024-2025 season was the brightest hope towards a Stanley Cup that the Toronto Maple Leafs have seen in a long time. Making it past the first round against the Ottawa Senators in 6 games, and then taking a 2-0 lead over the Florida Panthers in the second round. As the series progressed, it was clear we were witnessing Marner's last moments as a Maple Leaf, with every warm-up ritual witnessed, every assist and goal, it all carried the weight of a goodbye. Fans and likely Marner himself knew it would be his last ones in the Blue and White colours. 

Marner now joins Jack Eichel in Las Vegas, who was in the same draft class. Jack was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres. In 2021, he was traded to Las Vegas. The Golden Knights last won the Stanley Cup in 2023, defeating the Panthers 9-3. The Golden Knights were an expansion team following a vote in June 2016.  The following year, their roster started to form as they secured unprotected players along with their 30 expansion draft selections. 

“As I prepare for what comes next, I leave a different person than I was at 18. I’ll always be grateful for my time here, and most of all, I'm so proud to have been a Toronto Maple Leaf. With Heartfelt Thanks, Mitch Marner.”  In his final goodbye to the city and team he once called home, Marner showed just how grateful he was to wear the Maple Leaf and represent the place he grew up. 

After almost a decade, it comes full circle for Mitch Marner as he gets to become a Knight once again and wear his original #93