Mitch Marner`s time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, ideally, should have concluded with his name etched alongside the team`s all-time legends.
Instead, his tenure is ending with a move to Las Vegas, and the return for this electrifying yet frustrating player is restricted to Nicolas Roy, a capable but ultimately unspectacular third-line forward.
Considering the circumstances – just hours before Marner was set to become an unrestricted free agent, and the limitations imposed by a full no-move clause he inherited and used when his trade value was higher – GM Brad Treliving managed a decent outcome with the June 30 sign-and-trade. This transaction officially marks the end of the `Core Four` era for the team.
With the sign-and-trade structure, the Vegas Golden Knights secured Marner at a manageable $12 million annual cap hit, helped by including an eighth year, which wouldn`t have been possible without this type of deal.
(Interestingly, Marner`s new $96 million contract total mirrors that of proposed trade candidate Mikko Rantanen. Both players will share the distinction of being the NHL`s highest-paid wingers starting next season.)
The Vegas Golden Knights organization barely existed back in 2015 when Toronto, focusing on drafting elite talent, selected Marner from the London Knights – notably, ahead of Noah Hanifin, who is now his new teammate in Vegas.
Like a warm welcome from the team mascot, the city enthusiastically embraced one of its local talents.
He was an undersized player gifted with hands as skilled and tricky as a magician`s. He was a fluid, imaginative skater who viewed the hockey rink like a skateboarder sees urban architecture – a space for creative, unexpected plays.
After another season developing his confidence and leading the London Knights to a Memorial Cup championship, Marner moved up to the NHL. He changed his jersey from No. 93 to No. 16, and most Leafs fans were convinced he had everything needed to become a beloved player, an all-time favorite like Doug Gilmour.
Over nine regular seasons with his hometown team, Marner often dominated opponents, frequently putting together long point streaks, contributing multiple assists even on nights he wasn`t the primary focus, and delivering multi-point games when he was playing his best.
He would steal the puck from opponents while backchecking and efficiently kill penalties using unconventional maneuvers that coaches would typically forbid from other players.
We frequently saw Marner use his skate to control the puck or direct passes to teammates with such regularity that these extraordinary plays seemed routine. On occasion, he would even intentionally use his head to make a pass.
Who else could perform a drop pass during a breakaway and have it appear to be the optimal play?
Marner`s exceptional vision elevated his first center, John Tavares (whom then-GM Kyle Dubas reportedly recruited using Marner`s highlight reel), leading Tavares to a career-best season with 47 goals and 88 points.
Once paired with Auston Matthews, their partnership fueled Matthews to win three Rocket Richard trophies and a Hart Trophy. Both linemates consistently made the All-Star team, and each was a finalist for the Selke Trophy (awarded to the best defensive forward).
At 28 and arguably in his peak, Marner departs the 108-year-old Maple Leafs franchise holding impressive ranks: fourth all-time in assists (520) and fifth all-time in points (741). Every player ranked higher than him on these lists is recognized with a banner and is enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Even the “pass-first” Marner ranks 14th in goals scored for the Leafs all-time (221).
According to Max Pacioretty, a former Golden Knight himself, “There is no one else like him in the league. His intelligence and constant awareness of everyone`s position on the ice are unmatched. While many top players have good vision, he operates at a completely different level.”
Pacioretty humorously dismissed the idea of trying to replicate or learn Marner`s unique skills.
The veteran player explained, “His anticipation is what makes him so incredible, and it`s extremely difficult to imitate. Usually, players who anticipate passes or breakaways are seen as `cheating` the play. But when he does it, it doesn`t feel like cheating. It`s because he`s exceptionally skilled at reading the game and predicting puck movement. I believe that kind of ability is innate and cannot be taught.”
It would be challenging to explain to someone who didn`t witness Marner`s time in Toronto how the initial excitement, immense potential, and incredible highlights eventually transformed into a situation marked by deep disappointment, numerous squandered chances, and a trade that felt like settling for minimal return.
