Elliotte Friedman gives his opinion on Mitch Marner's decision to leave Toronto after 'worst-case scenario' of Leafs' playoff exit

Mitch Marner, the top unrestricted free agent of 2025, was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.

He reportedly signed an eight-year, $96 million extension with the Golden Knights a day before NHL free agency began.

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On "NHL on TNT", insider Elliotte Friedman discussed Marner’s move, noting it’s a strong match for both Marner and Vegas.

"I love the fit. It's a great fit for Vegas and Marner. First of all, we just talked about all these things with the Florida Panthers. You can say a lot of the same things about the Vegas Golden Knights. It's a great organization to play for," Friedman said.

Friedman also suggested that after Toronto’s disappointing playoff exit, where Marner faced significant criticism, the trade offers him a fresh start in a less pressured environment:

"I'm not surprised. The way the playoffs ended this year, I thought the worst-case scenario for Toronto was if the playoffs ended poorly and Marner took a lot of heat, which was exactly what happened. It was time for him. Time to go somewhere quieter. A fresh start."

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Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs received center Nicolas Roy from the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade deal for Mitch Marner. Roy notched 31 points in 71 games last season. He is under contract for two more years with a $3 million annual cap hit.

Mitch Marner was drafted No. 4 by the Maple Leafs in the 2015 NHL draft. He racked up 741 points through 221 goals and 520 assists during his nine-year tenure with the Leafs.

Maple Leafs sign veteran John Tavares to 4-year extension

John Tavares wanted to remain with the Maple Leafs and was willing to accept a lower salary to make it happen.

On Friday, he signed a four-year, $17.52 million extension with the club, opting to forgo unrestricted free agency on July 1.

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"Even though I left some money out there, I've done pretty well and am still doing pretty well and get to play for an amazing club in a great city, a place where I'm from and a team that has a real opportunity to win," Tavares said after his contract extension.

John Tavares is coming off a 74-point (38 goals, 36 assists) season with the Maple Leafs. The veteran has been with the club for the last seven seasons.

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta