After playing nine seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and garnering 741 points in total, Mitch Marner parted ways with the franchise. The Vegas Golden Knights acquired him in exchange, sending forward Nicolas Roy and an eight-year, $96 million contract to the Toronto Maple Leafs. “Leaving isn’t easy. This is where I grew up, where I fell in love with hockey, and I’ve had the incredible honor of living out my childhood dream.” Marner said just after the trade was solemnized. 

However, after the Golden Knights acquired him two days ago, a strong roster update hit the franchise. The NHL Public Relations reported that the Vegas Golden Knights now have a roster that includes three of the top five 2015 NHL draft picks. An occurrence which is now in line with the Florida Panthers’ three-star players, who were also top NHL draft picks from the 2014 NHL draft class. 

The Vegas Golden Knights’ roster now boasts of Jack Eichel and Hanifin, along with Mitch Marner. Whereas the Panthers have Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, and the Conn Smythe Trophy 2024 winner, Sam Bennett, on the roster, who were picked up by NHL teams in 2014. The Panthers won two consecutive Stanley Cup victories with Ekblad, Reinhart, and Bennett. Now, let’s see if the Vegas Golden Knights can replicate the same feat of the Panthers with three of the top five NHL draft picks of 2015. Actually, there is so much Mitch can bring to the table, the upcoming season.

The star right winger finished 5th in assists during the 2024–25 regular season. And as if that wasn’t already enough to rattle opponents, he also finished 5th in total scoring points. After appearing in 81 regular-season games, Mitch Marner recorded 27 goals and 75 assists, all while managing to stay on the ice for an average of 21 minutes and 18 seconds per game. That’s consistency and leadership in motion. But Marner didn’t stop shining there.

He carried that same energy into the postseason, doing his best to step up when it mattered most. He added 13 points in the playoffs, including 2 goals and 11 assists. Looking at his nine total postseason appearances, this was his second-best scoring run in the NHL playoffs, just one point behind his 2022–23 peak of 14 points. So, there’s really no doubt Marner could be a massive threat for any opponent lining up against the Golden Knights next season.

But you know, while his trade discussions are setting down, there is another special thing unfolding in Mitch’s life. He recently talked about it at his first official press conference.

Mitch Marner shares family tribute to iconic No. 93 Jersey

“Wearing the Maple Leaf on my chest wasn’t just about playing for a team; it was about representing my home.” This heartfelt message was what the Maple Leafs’ former star player Mitch Marner shared with fans after learning about the final trade confirmation. It definitely looked like a surprise move for Marner, right? But an even more surprising twist came after all the signings were done. Once the paperwork was probably done and dusted, Mitch showed up at the press conference.

In that press conference, a reporter asked Mitch the most anticipated question that had been floating around in the rumor mill for days. It was about the possibility of him wearing his iconic No.93 jersey while playing for the Vegas Golden Knights. That number wasn’t just a random choice. It was the same one he proudly wore during his time with the London Knights in the OHL. So when the reporter brought it up, Mitch didn’t hold back from sharing. With a big smile, he said, “I’m very excited about it.”  Then came a heartwarming reveal. His young son had already worn that jersey after the family touched down in Vegas. Mitch shared that he and his wife, Stephanie, had tried the iconic number ‘93’ jersey on their son, and both of them felt it was a truly special and emotional moment.

But do you know why No. 93 is so special to Marner? He also opened up about that during the press conference. Mitch said, “My dad was a big Doug Gilmour fan growing up… from that moment on, I wanted to wear #93.” That childhood influence left a lasting impact on him. Mitch eventually became a fan of the star player himself, and the Maple Leafs team never left his mind as a kid. That deep connection is also why leaving Toronto wasn’t easy for Marner. Now that he has started a new chapter in Vegas, Marner is likely to get his iconic number back. All eyes are on the Golden Knights to see if that wish truly becomes reality.