Mitch Marner Breaks Silence After Leaving Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost star forward Mitch Marner on Monday, sending him to the Vegas Golden Knights in a massive sign-and-trade deal. Marner was scheduled to be a free agent, but Vegas got out ahead of it all before he could hit the market.

Many had linked the Maple Leafs star to the Golden Knights throughout the process, and things played out exactly the way people thought. Vegas now adds another star player to the mix, while the Maple Leafs are left to pick up the pieces.

But on his way out, Marner released a heartfelt statement to the Maple Leafs and all the fans.

"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.