Mitch Marner’s Quiet Exit: What His Deal Might Say About Growth

When Mitch Marner signed an eight-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights as part of his sign-and-trade from Toronto, the news felt oddly… calm. No leaks. No media frenzy. No last-minute standoffs or public bargaining through agents. Just a tidy deal, signed and sealed, with little of the chaos surrounding his last negotiation in Toronto. Has Marner shown growth?

Friedman Was Surprised by Marner’s Longer Contract

According to Elliotte Friedman, many believed Marner would opt for a shorter term to set up one more big payday. But that didn’t happen. Instead, Friedman was told, “Marner was just tired of the process—he found it stressful. He said, ‘Why go through this again? Let’s do the eight years.’”

It’s a telling quote—and maybe a revealing one.

Toronto fans still remember the bitterness of Marner’s last negotiation in 2019, which fans thought showed a lack of growth. He held out through camp and ultimately signed a six-year, $65 million deal. Some viewed it as brinkmanship, others saw it as greed. But it undeniably marked a turning point in his relationship with the city. Once adored as a hometown hero, he began to draw criticism, especially when the playoffs arrived and the production didn’t match the paycheck.