Mitch Marner’s journey to Vegas began with a story that almost never happened. While the Toronto Maple Leafs star ultimately found his new home with the Vegas Golden Knights through a sign-and-trade deal, there was a moment last season when his future nearly took a completely different turn.
That crossroads, involving a high-stakes deadline decision and the most personal circumstances imaginable, reveals just how much timing matters in professional hockey.
Why Did Mitch Marner Turn Down the Carolina Trade?
The Carolina Hurricanes nearly became a major part of Marner’s story last season. Around the trade deadline, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving approached him about waiving his no-movement clause for a blockbuster deal that would have sent him to Carolina in exchange for Mikko Rantanen.
Marner declined, and for good reason. His wife was six or seven months pregnant, and moving midseason simply wasn’t an option.
“The last two years there were a lot of rumors going on, a lot of different stuff swirling around. You didn’t know what was going to happen,” Marner said.
“Then the whole Carolina thing comes up in the middle of the season. It’s a bit of an awkward one… we really didn’t want to be a deadline player.” He added that the logistics of relocating without his family “just didn’t make sense.”
In the end, Rantanen was dealt to the Dallas Stars, while Marner stayed put in Toronto for one more playoff run. The decision reinforced where his priorities stood: family first, hockey second, even if it meant riding out more uncertainty in a market where scrutiny never fades.
That perspective carried into the summer. With the birth of his first child and years of pressure in Toronto weighing heavily, Marner welcomed the chance for a reset when Vegas came calling.
“It’s going to be a new life. I’m really excited for it,” he said at Hockey Canada’s orientation camp, describing Vegas as a place to breathe, enjoy family time outdoors, and escape the constant spotlight of Toronto.
What Made Vegas the Right Fit for Marner?
Marner’s departure from Toronto was bittersweet. Drafted fourth overall in 2015, he produced 741 points in 657 games and cemented himself as one of the NHL’s premier playmakers. However, nine seasons of playoff heartbreak left their mark, and eventually the appeal of a fresh start outweighed the pull of finishing the job in Toronto.
“I was grateful for everything in Toronto,” he said. “I’m very fortunate to go to another great team. We had a great team in Toronto, and I’m fortunate to go to another great team in Vegas.”
By summer, the chapter closed in a different way as Marner approved a sign-and-trade to the Golden Knights, where he quickly signed an eight-year, $96 million contract. The Golden Knights, fresh off another strong season, wasted no time making their bold and headline-grabbing signature move. Adding a 102-point winger bolsters an already deep roster.
Captain Mark Stone called Marner an “incredible get,” pointing to his long-term commitment as proof of Vegas’ status as a destination for elite players.
The reset means more than on-ice production for Marner. It’s a chance to build family life in a calmer setting while competing with a contender.
And as for the trade that never happened? In hindsight, it may have been the best outcome. Toronto kept its prized young pieces, Vegas added another star, and Marner found the balance he was searching for with the Stanley Cup still in sight.