The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially concluded the Core Four era by trading Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade deal. This strategic move by Leafs GM Brad Treliving secured another skater for the team`s bottom six forward group instead of potentially losing their star winger for nothing in unrestricted free agency.
Nicolas Roy is set to be an indirect replacement for Marner in the Leafs` lineup next season. Known for his versatility, capable of playing centre on the third or fourth line or transitioning to the wing, Roy offers valuable size, a solid defensive game, and sufficient offensive ability to significantly bolster the depth scoring, an area where the team has often faced challenges during critical moments.
Drafted 96th overall by Carolina in 2015, Roy became a consistent 15-goal scorer in Vegas and played a contributing role in their 2023 Stanley Cup victory. As the Leafs aim to lessen the load on their top offensive players and foster a more unified team effort, Roy is anticipated to be a crucial addition, even though he won`t fill Marner`s exact role or match his high-level point production. He reached a career-best of 41 points two seasons prior.
Marner is undoubtedly the headline piece of this transaction, immediately addressing a need for the Golden Knights from the previous season. Vegas` top-scoring wingers last year included breakthrough player Pavel Dorofeyev (35 goals), along with Brett Howden (23) and Ivan Barbashev (23), who also hit the 20-goal mark.
However, those three players combined for only five goals during the playoffs.
Marner is expected to provide a significant boost to Vegas` wing offense, coming off a 102-point season, and enhance their defensive awareness. Yet, as the Golden Knights look to rebound from two consecutive early playoff exits, Marner himself carries a history of playoff struggles. From 2019 to 2025, he recorded zero goals and seven assists over 20 games in Games 5 through 7 of playoff series.
This trade brings substantial change to the Maple Leafs organization and presents Mitch Marner with a new chance to play away from the intense pressure of his hometown and potentially reshape his narrative. He will also switch from number 16, which he wore for nine seasons in Toronto, to number 93, his jersey number during his junior career with the London Knights.
