Mitch Marner’s decision to leave the Auston Matthew’s Toronto Maple Leafs for the Vegas Golden Knights may have surprised some fans, but the move had been in the works far longer than many realized. During his introductory press conference on Tuesday, the 28-year-old winger detailed the timeline that led to the end of his nine-year tenure in Toronto — a run that included multiple playoff heartbreaks and increasing speculation about his future.
The thought of departing began to surface as early as the summer of 2023, following yet another first-round postseason exit. Trade rumors swirled heavily, and internally, Marner started to question what was next.
“Last year in Toronto — or two years ago — we didn’t win. We didn’t do what we wanted to do,” Marner admitted, during his Golden Knights introductory press conference. “Stuff started going a little north, a little south. We didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Why Mitch Marner vetoed a trade to Vegas at the deadline
Marner explained that he remained committed to Toronto for the 2024–25 season, opting not to negotiate a new contract during the year. But behind the scenes, the idea of a fresh start remained on the table — especially when a proposed three-team deal involving the Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes emerged at the trade deadline.
Mitch Marner during his introductory press conference with the Vegas Golden Knights, after being acquired through a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Official Vegas Golden Knights account on X (@GoldenKnights))
Despite the opportunity, Marner declined to waive his no-move clause, citing deeply personal reasons. “My wife was seven, eight months pregnant. We didn’t want to go anywhere on a short stint,” Marner said. “And I was still very committed to playing in Toronto and wanted to focus on being there and finishing a job there.”
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Golden Knights were always on Marner’s shortlist
When the offseason arrived, the interest from Vegas resurfaced — and this time, Marner was ready. His agent Darren Ferris informed him of the renewed discussions at the NHL Draft, and Marner quickly gave the green light. “This was a spot that was very high on my list,” Marner said. “We wanted to come here.”
The deal materialized into an eight-year, $96 million contract, making Marner the highest-paid player in Golden Knights history and formally closing the chapter on his time alongside Auston Matthews in Toronto.
