Mitch Marner writes emotional goodbye letter to Toronto Maple Leafs fans
The Mitch Marner era with the Toronto Maple Leafs is officially over.
On Wednesday, the Leafs officially completed the trade of Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of free agency, ending a high-profile saga about the star player’s future.
Following the news of his eight-year deal with the Golden Knights becoming official, Marner took to Instagram to write a goodbye message to the fans after nine seasons with the Leafs.
“Dear Toronto, Now that my time in Toronto has come to an end, I wanted to share what these last nine years have meant to me. Leaving isn’t easy. This city is where I grew up, where I fell in love with hockey, and where I’ve had the incredible honour of living out my childhood dream. Wearing the Maple Leafs on my chest wasn’t just about playing for a team, it was about representing my home,” Marner wrote.
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“When I was drafted, all I wanted was to help bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto. That was always the goal, and I came up short. I know how much this team means to this city, and I know the expectations that come with wearing this jersey. 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 continued.
Marner had spent his whole career with the Leafs since being taken fourth overall in the 2015 draft, putting up 741 points in the process.
“To the fans: thank you. Playing in Toronto is special because of you. Over the last nine seasons, I have felt it all: the passion, the pride, the hope, the pressure, and the support. You care deeply, and never took that for granted,” he added. To my teammates, coaches, trainers, the equipment and medical staff, team services, PR staff, and everyone behind the scenes who keep things running, thank you. I’m grateful for every conversation, moment of support, and every bit of belief you showed me along the way.”
Marner put up a career-high 102 points in the regular season this past year, before following that up with 13 points in 13 playoff games. In 657 career games with the Leafs, heās put up 221 goals and 520 assists.
“As I prepare for what comes next, I leave a different person than what 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 concluded.
The Leafs themselves kept their goodbye a little bit shorter, though they’
For the nine years of magic you brought on and off the ice šŖ
Thank you, Mitchy! pic.twitter.com/mZKM5jXH2l
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 1, 2025
“For the nine years of magic you brought on and off the ice,” the Leafs wrote. “Thank you, Mitchy!”