Golden Knights Acquire Mitch Marner in Eight-Year $96M Trade with Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner, after nine seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, has been traded to the Vegas Golden Knights and signed an eight-year, $96 million contract, opting for stability and the chance to win in Las Vegas over testing free agency. Marner and his family expressed excitement about the move, with the forward citing the Golden Knights' winning culture and fit as key reasons for his decision. The trade ends a long, often contentious saga with the Maple Leafs, where Marner was a central figure in public debates about the team's repeated playoff shortcomings and salary cap pressures. The deal reunites Marner with the No. 93 jersey he wore in junior hockey, and Vegas management described him as their top target, underlining their commitment by securing him before free agency opened. The Maple Leafs received center Nicolas Roy in the sign-and-trade, gaining cap space but little immediate impact, closing a chapter in Toronto that many felt had grown toxic. In Las Vegas, Marner is expected to blend into a star-studded roster while facing less intense media scrutiny than in hockey-centric Toronto.