Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner has been seen skating in Vegas Golden Knights gear for the first time since signing with the club.
The 28-year-old was on the ice in Muskoka, Ontario, this week with Muskoka Hockey, wearing all white gear, which included Golden Knights pants and gloves. Marner joined Vegas in a sign-and-trade with the Maple Leafs, where the forward inked an eight-year, $96 million deal, before being moved to the Golden Knights for Nicolas Roy.
Marner's contract will see him earn $12 million annually, $1.1 million more than his last contract with Toronto (a six-year deal with an AAV of $10.903 million) signed in September 2019. The Maple Leafs' fourth overall pick in 2015 scored 741 points (221 goals and 520 assists) in 657 games with the club.
He's fifth all-time on the franchise's points list (741 points in 657 games), fourth in assists (520), and fifth in the team's all-time playoff points (63 points in 70 postseason games).
"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 Leaf on my chest wasn't just about playing for a team, it was about representing my home," Marner said in an Instagram post to Maple Leafs fans after joining Vegas.
"When I was drafted, all I wanted was to help bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto. That was always the goal, and 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."
In acquiring Roy, the Maple Leafs are getting a serviceable third-line center who'll add depth to Toronto's lineup. The 28-year-old, who's entering the fourth season of a five-year deal with an AAV of $3 million, scored 15 goals and 16 assists in 71 games with Vegas last season.
The Amos, Quebec-born forward has 32 points (10 goals and 22 assists) in 79 career playoff games with the Golden Knights. He also won the Stanley Cup with the club during the 2022-23 season, scoring three goals and eight assists in that span.
Marner will face his former team for the first time in Vegas at T-Mobile Arena on January 15 before returning home to Toronto to go up against the Maple Leafs on January 23.
This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner Spotted Skating In Golden Knights Gear In Muskoka
(Top photo of Marner: @muskokahockey / Instagram)