Mitch Marner has penned an emotional message to Toronto Maple Leafs fans after his time with the team is over.
Marner was officially traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on July 1 in a sign-and-trade as he inked an eight-year, $96 million deal with Vegas. After the trade was official, Marner took to his Instagram to issue an emotional goodbye.
“Dear Toronto, Now that my time in Toronto has come to an end, I wanted to share what these last nine years have meant to me. Leaving isn’t easy,” Marner’s message began. “This city is where I grew up, where I fell in love with hockey, and where I’ve had the incredible honour of living out of my childhood dream. Wearing the Maple Leaf on my chest wasn’t just about playing for a team; it was about representing my home.
“When I was drafted, all I wanted was to help bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto. That was always the goal, and I came up short,” Marner added. “I know how much this team means to this city, and I know the expectations that come with wearing this jersey. I gave everything I had, but in the end, it wasn’t enough. That’s hard to admit, because I wanted it so badly, for all of us.”
Marner was selected fourth overall in 2015 by the Maple Leafs. In his NHL career, he’s skated in 657 games, recording 221 goals and 520 assists for 741 points.
Marner Thanks Maple Leafs Fans
Marner’s emotional goodbye didn’t end there as he also took time to thank Maple Leafs fans.
The star winger knows how passionate the fanbase is and is thankful for his nine years with the team.
“To the fans. Thank you. Playing in Toronto is special because of you. Over the last nine seasons, I have felt it all: the passion, the pride, the hope, the pressure, and the support. You care deeply, and I never took that for granted,” Marner wrote. “To my teammates, coaches trainers, the equipment and medical staff team services, PR staff, and everyone behind the scenes who keep things running, thank you. I’m grateful for every conversation, every moment of support, and every bit of belief you showed me along the way.
“As I prepare for what comes next, I leave a different person than I was at 18. I’ll always be grateful for my time here, and most of all, I’m so proud to have been a Toronto Maple Leaf. With heartfelt thanks, Mitch Marner,” he concluded.
Marner is a three-time NHL All-Star.
Maple Leafs GM Wanted to Trade Marner
With Marner likely hitting free agency, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving wanted to get something back for him.
Treliving was talking to Vegas about a sign-and-trade and ended up pulling it off for Nicolas Roy.
“You’d always like to get something, right? That’s not always the case. That’s probably as far as I want to get into it, but we’ll see how things go,” Treliving said. “I don’t know if the chances are greater today than they were yesterday, or they’re going to be better or worse tomorrow. I understand the interest, but certainly we’ve got nothing to report, and I don’t want to get involved in speculation.”
The Maple Leafs also traded for Mattias Maccelli before free agency begins on July 1.
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