Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Image via Getty Images) The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a massive setback when their top right-winger, Mitch Marner, announced his exit from the team in June 2025, citing safety and privacy issues that landed the player and his family members in trouble. According to reports, after the Leafs lost a crucial playoff game in May, some enraged fans went too far and tried to invade the privacy of the player and attempted to harass him and his family members. Owing to such severe security reasons, the player called his exit from Toronto after nine years to join the Vegas Golden Knights for eight years in a whopping $96 million contract. Following his departure, Matthew Knies and the team are certainly going to feel a little different, as Marner left a void in the team. Responding to his exit, Knies has finally opened up about the departure. Let us take a look at Matthew Knies’ views on Marner’s exit from Toronto Maple Leafs.
Toronto Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies opens up on Mitch Marner’s departure
Toronto Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies has finally opened up about the departure of Mitch Marner’s departure. According to reports, Marner was dealt to Vegas in a sign-and-trade where he ultimately inked an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Golden Knights.The reality of the move hasn’t fully sunk in for many in the team and likely won’t until the star winger makes his debut as a Golden Knight, including his former teammate and linemate, Matthew Knies, who recently discussed Marner’s departure with Joshua Kloke of The Athletic.”It feels really weird, to be honest. It’s hard to picture him in a different jersey. It was once I realized that at this level it’s more of a business, and you’ve got to do what’s best for yourself and your family. I hope he did that. I hope he enjoys himself and still has a lot of success because I think he meant a lot to our team and obviously to me. It just feels awkward,” Knies said.According to The Sporting News, the 22-year-old spent the majority of the 2024-25 season on a line with Marner, breaking out for 58 points (29 goals, 29 assists) in 78 games.
Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving addresses Marner’s safety concerns in Toronto
Speaking about the security issues of Mitch Marner, the Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving also stated, “In our business, your No. 1 priority is looking after your players, and I think we do a really good job of it I don’t have any concerns that we don’t do everything humanly possible to make sure that they’re looked after, but in today’s world, you never take anything not seriously.”He further added, “In today’s world – and it can go for Toronto, it can go for any market with social media – the lion’s share of people can have good, honest discourse, but there’s always the ones that cross the line. It’s unfortunate, but we always take every precaution necessary to make sure our guys are looked after.””We go through that every year, so guys know we’ve got a security team, we’ve got people whose jobs are to look after them and make sure they and their families are very comfortable,” Treliving added lastly.Also Read: Are the Maple Leafs considering William Nylander as a replacement for Mitch Marner? | NHL News – Times of IndiaFurther, Treliving stated that the organization has correct security measures in place and reiterated that the Leafs routinely remind players of the security resources accessible to them.