LAS VEGAS — Over the past eight years, the Vegas Golden Knights have established themselves as a team defined by family, winning, and culture. These very attributes stood out to Mitch Marner, who agreed to a sign-and-trade deal from the Toronto Maple Leafs to join the Golden Knights. Marner, initially drafted fourth overall in 2015 by Toronto, was drawn to the prospect of joining a team that had made an indelible mark on the NHL since its inception in 2017.
Speaking at his introductory news conference, Marner highlighted the winning culture that Vegas has cultivated in the league. “The winning regimen they’ve put up for the past five years, really since they’ve been in the league, is impressive,” Marner said. He further emphasized the positive feedback he received from former Vegas players Max Pacioretty and Ryan Reaves about life in Las Vegas, which made the decision easier for him and his family. “The living arrangements seemed like a good fit for my wife, our new son, and me.
Marner’s decision was undoubtedly sweetened by a lucrative $96 million, eight-year contract. Both he and Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon acknowledged the importance of sealing the deal before July 1. By that date, Marner could have been eligible for free agency and one of the most pursued players in the league.
For Marner, signing with Vegas was a top priority. Sitting alongside his wife Stephanie, their 3-month-old son Miles, and his parents, he said, “We wanted to come here. After consulting with my agent, we expressed our openness to make the move if feasible. Just hours later, Kelly confirmed a deal.” Considering free agency was on Marner’s mind, but ultimately, he felt Vegas was the destination he couldn’t pass up. “We didn’t want to lose the opportunity to join this team,” he noted.
With Marner joining the ranks of Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, William Karlsson, Shea Theodore, and Adin Hill, the Golden Knights bolster a lineup that has qualified for the playoffs consecutively for three seasons, including claiming the Stanley Cup in 2023. “You want to be in a place where you can win,” Marner emphasized. “Hoisting the Stanley Cup is the goal. This team has proven they can achieve that. I’m hopeful I can contribute to bringing it back.”
The opportunity to acquire Marner arose after defenseman Alex Pietrangelo declared he would step away from hockey due to a severe hip injury necessitating bilateral femur reconstruction. GM Kelly McCrimmon expressed that this injury might keep Pietrangelo off the ice permanently. By placing Pietrangelo on long-term injured reserve, the team found the salary cap space needed to incorporate Marner.
Having forged an impressive NHL presence, Marner, a two-time All-Star winger, departs Toronto as the franchise’s fifth-highest scorer, boasting 741 regular-season points from 221 goals and 520 assists. Since his debut season in 2016-17, Marner ranks among the top playmakers with 521 assists, placing him fifth in the league, and sits eighth overall with 741 points. McCrimmon was thrilled. “We’re getting one of the best forwards in the National Hockey League,” he declared. “Elite playmaker, tremendous passer. Our fans will love this player. He really enhances our team. Acquiring an F1 caliber forward like Marner was a priority for us.” He added, “When free agency loomed, he was the player we had our sights set on.”