Mitch Marner's nine-year run with the Toronto Maple Leafs has reportedly come to an end, a day before the NHL's free agent market opens.Karl B DeBlaker/The Associated Press
The Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly parted ways with Mitch Marner after nine outstanding seasons on Monday, in a trade to Vegas that would see him sign an eight-year deal.
The Golden Knights will reportedly give the 28-year-old right wing a US$96-million contract. In return the Maple Leafs will receive 25-year-old centre Nicolas Roy and will gain nearly US$8-million which to strengthen their roster. Roy had 15 goals and 31 points in 2024-2025.
Marner would have become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday and would have been able to accept offers from all NHL teams without Toronto receiving anything in return.
Through his expiring contract Marner received US$10.9-million per year. Roy signed a five-year extension worth US$15-million in 2022. Those US$3-million give the Leafs salary cap breathing room.
As he departs from Toronto, Marner ranks among the organization’s most accomplished players. He is fifth on the club’s all-time scoring list with 741 points.
He was selected in the first round by Toronto with the fourth pick in the 2015 draft, just three places behind Connor McDavid. He played the next year with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League but was promoted to the Maple Leafs in 2016 and never looked back.
Marner has had 90 points or more four times, topped by a career-best 102 during the 2024-25 campaign. He and superstar centre Auston Matthews made up one of the most dangerous tandems in the league.
The one area in which he had not succeeded was to help Toronto win the Stanley Cup. The team made the playoffs in each of his seasons but advanced past the first round only twice.
Vegas, which is led by another superstar centre in Jack Eichel, claimed its first Stanley Cup in 2023. Toronto’s last NHL championship came in 1967.
Nicolas Roy, right, won a Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. He brings that experience plus some salary cap relief in the reported Marner trade.Leila Devlin/Getty Images
Vegas had previously shown great interest in Marner and attempted to work a deal for him with the Maple Leafs at the trade deadline on March 7.
Toronto had been busy before it took care of its problem with Marner, who had made it clear that he was not interested in re-signing with the team.
On Sunday it signed its rugged 22-year-old left wing Matthew Knies to a six-year extension at an annual US$7.75-million per season. Knies earned US$925,000 during the 2024-25 campaign but got a huge raise after he scored 29 goals and had 58 points in 78 regular-season games.
He had developed into Toronto’s most effective net-front presence and also played well during the postseason with five goals and two assists in 13 appearances.
Earlier Monday the Leafs signed forward Steven Lorentz to a three-year contract extension valued at US$1.35-million per season.
Lorentz, 29, netted eight goals and added 11 assists in 80 contests during the regular season.
“There was no doubt in my mind that I would be back in Toronto again,” Lorentz said during a video call with journalists.
The Maple Leafs signed him as a free agent during the summer of 2024, just months after he won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers.
“In my heart of hearts I wanted to stay and I’m just looking forward to next year,” he said.
“Last year exceeded my expectations. We have a great group of guys. It was kind of a no-brainer. I am glad it’s done now.”
Lorentz spoke with the media only a few minutes after the Marner trade was reported.
“He was an incredible teammate,” Lorentz said. “[Vegas] got an incredible player. I am happy for Mitch.”
Also on Monday, the Maple Leafs acquired Finnish left wing Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional third-round selection in 2027. If the Maple Leafs earn a playoff berth and Maccelli records at least 51 points in 2025-26, the pick will be converted to a second-round choice in 2029.
Maccelli, 24, appeared in 55 games for Utah in 2024-25, recording eight goals and 10 assists. In 224 NHL games, he has 37 goals and 130 points. He was named to the league’s all-rookie squad in 2023 after he recorded 11 goals and 49 points for the Arizona Coyotes in 64 games.
The Maple Leafs will begin their annual development camp on Wednesday, when players will undergo medical evaluations. On-ice sessions will be conducted at the club’s practice facility in Etobicoke on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
There are 48 players invited to the camp, including all six who were drafted by the team on Saturday.