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Mitch Marner All But Confirms He Made Up His Mind to Leave the Leafs Years Ago
Photo credit: Imagn Images
Mitch Marner had his introductory press conference with the Las Vegas Golden Knights this evening, and his comments about the Toronto Maple Leafs are telling.
After the Toronto Maple Leafs completed a sign-and-trade involving Mitch Marner and Nicolas Roy on Monday, the Las Vegas Golden Knights introduced their new player to the media on Tuesday.
In fact, we got to watch Marner put on the Golden Knights jersey for the very first time, and he seems to be having himself a pretty great time.
As for the press conference, it was here where the media got to ask Marner about the trade, and why he wanted to sign with the Golden Knights.
Mitch Marner explains his decision to move to Las Vegas
As you will read, a lot of it has to do with a winning culture, the living situation, and the rest of the roster, which is looking pretty good.
However, near the end of the press conference, Marner let something slip. Essentially, he said that he started feeling as though it was time to leave two years ago.
He told the team he would ride out his contract, but once it was up, he was going to market.
Mitch Marner says Vegas's winning culture, living arrangements, and high-end players made the Golden Knights a fit for him and his family.
Mitch Marner: "You want to hoist that Stanley Cup. This team has shown they can do it."
Mitch Marner on negotiations: "It was a wild one."
Says there were "a couple teams" he was interested in.
"This was a spot that was very high on my list."
Says there were "a couple teams" he was interested in.
"This was a spot that was very high on my list."
Marner says he had no interest in being a deadline rental.
Only wanted to go to a team where he'd sign an extension.
But deadline discussions piqued his interest in Vegas.
Says with his wife pregnant, he wanted to focus on hockey in Toronto at the time.
Only wanted to go to a team where he'd sign an extension.
But deadline discussions piqued his interest in Vegas.
Says with his wife pregnant, he wanted to focus on hockey in Toronto at the time.
Mitch Marner: "It was really tough to leave Toronto, to be honest."
Mitch Marner says "two years ago, really" things began going south and trade rumours swirled in Toronto. He told the Leafs before the season that he was "willing to take it to the distance" (i.e., let his Leafs contract expire and test free agency).
For a lot of Maple Leafs fans out there, this is a confirmation of what they already knew to be true.
However, for others, this is a great betrayal that some will simply never forget for a very long time.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 1 | 787 ANSWERS Mitch Marner All But Confirms He Made Up His Mind to Leave the Leafs Years Ago Do you believe Mitch Marner made the right choice by going to the Las Vegas Golden Knights? | ||
| YES | 462 | 58.7 % |
| NO | 325 | 41.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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