Devastated Leafs fans are saying goodbye to Mitch Marner, who’s been traded by the team after nine years of playing for the city.
The right winger was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, signing an eight-year, $96-million contract just one day before he would have become an unrestricted free agent.
The 28-year-old Markham native was selected No. 4 by the Maple Leafs at the 2015 NHL Draft.
On Tuesday morning, Marner penned a heartfelt goodbye letter to Toronto fans on his Instagram account, expressing how playing for his hometown was a childhood dream come true.
“Wearing the Maple Leaf on my chest wasn’t just about playing for a team, it was about representing my home,” he said in the post.
He also spoke about his regrets in not being able to bring the Stanley Cup to Toronto.
“That was always the goal, and I came up short,” Marner said. “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.”
He ended off his note thanking Toronto fans for a special nine seasons, and emphasized that he does not take the support for granted as he moves on.
“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,” he stated.
Fans quickly responded with well wishes, and assured that they’ll miss his presence on the ice.
“Truly a generational player. Hope he finds success in Vegas, will miss him on the Leafs big time,” one fan wrote in his comment section.
“I’ve been a diehard Leafs fan for 38 years and I’ll say, you gave us some of the best hockey we have ever seen,” another fan wrote. “So sad it all ended this way.”
“Still the best player who wore a Leaf jersey in the last 9 years. Mitch, you will be missed and good luck going forward. Our family will continue to wear your #16,” another commenter said.
Marner had a career-high 102 points (27 goals, 75 assists) in 81 regular-season games for Toronto last season and 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
In return for Marner, the Maple Leafs received forward Nicolas Roy.
