Why Mitch Marner left the Maple Leafs for the Golden Knights

The difference couldn't be more glaring.

Mitch Marner's former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, will be picking No. 1 overall in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Mitch Marner's current team, the Vegas Golden Knights, are playing in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes.

What a difference a year makes.

Last June, the buzz began to pick up that Marner didn't want to return to Toronto, and the Maple Leafs eventually negotiated a sign-and-trade that sent him to Vegas.

This June, the Maple Leafs watch at home after a miserable season as Marner tries to hoist the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights.

MORE: Max Domi's surgery had something go 'terribly wrong'

Why did Mitch Marner leave the Maple Leafs? 

There have been a variety of explanations over the past year, including those about Marner not liking the scrutiny put on himself and his family.

The reality is that, by the time the Maple Leafs made the move, they felt they had no choice.

Marner had made it clear he wanted to go elsewhere, and since his contract was up, he could sign as a free agent with a new team on July 1, 2025.

Before June ended, the Leafs had the sign-and-trade agreed upon with Vegas, getting Nicolas Roy back for their troubles.

The sign-and-trade made sense for the Golden Knights because it got them an extra year on Marner's deal that only the Leafs could technically offer him.

And Marner, a Canadian, got a new start in the American desert.

Mitch Marner's Maple Leafs career

The Maple Leafs drafted Marner No. 4 overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.

He averaged more than a point per game there, finishing with 741 in 657 games -- 221 goals, 520 assists.

That included a career-high 102 points (27 goals, 75 assists) in 2024-25.

Mitch Marner stats in 1st season with Golden Knights

Marner played in 81 regular season games in his first year in Vegas, putting up 24 goals and 56 assists (80 points).

He added 46 blocked shots and won 40.3% of his faceoffs.

In the playoffs, Marner enters the Stanley Cup Finals with an NHL-best 21 points -- seven goals and 14 assists.

More NHL news:

• A special, emotional moment for K'Andre Miller
• Henrik Sedin's son is excelling in a different sport
• Elias Petersson trade plans may be missing a key point
• Would the Maple Leafs trade Easton Cowan?
• Alex Ovechkin's mom is playing a role in his retirement decision