The Vegas Golden Knights host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night in a game laden with history and personal narrative. For the first time, Mitch Marner will face the franchise he starred with for nine seasons, his departure last summer adding another chapter to the Maple Leafs' long and often unfortunate tradition of seeing its greatest players leave under a cloud of controversy.
A Legacy of Fractured Farewells
The pattern is deeply ingrained in the fabric of the franchise. Frank Mahovlich, despite winning four Stanley Cups in Toronto, was eager to escape the reign of coach Punch Imlach. Captain Dave Keon later fled the team due to a bitter feud with owner Harold Ballard.
The discord continued for decades. The trade of popular winger Lanny McDonald to the Colorado Rockies in 1979 was so poorly received that fans staged a protest outside Maple Leaf Gardens. His friend and linemate, Darryl Sittler, responded by famously tearing the 'C' from his jersey, resigning the captaincy in 1982. Even the beloved Wendel Clark was shocked and emotional when dealt to Quebec in the trade that brought Mats Sundin to Toronto.
The Marner Parallel: A Missed Opportunity
Marner's exit echoes one of the more recent and salient examples: Mats Sundin. In 2008, with Sundin in the final year of his contract and the Leafs going nowhere, then-GM Cliff Fletcher had a deal in place with the Montreal Canadiens for a first-round pick. Sundin, holding a no-trade clause, refused to waive it. The Leafs ultimately received nothing when he left in free agency.
A similar scenario unfolded with Marner. As he approached free agency last season, the Leafs had a potential blockbuster on the table. They could have acquired star winger Mikko Rantanen from the Dallas Stars in exchange for Marner at the trade deadline. However, Marner, like Sundin before him, utilized his contractual rights to veto the move to Carolina.
He insisted on finishing the season in Toronto, a stance now viewed with skepticism given it was widely known he was likely heading to Las Vegas. The Leafs, unable to secure a better return, eventually traded Marner to the Golden Knights for bottom-six forward Nicolas Roy.
Looking Ahead: Boos Today, Acclaim Tomorrow?
Marner has seamlessly transitioned to Vegas, even shifting to centre when needed, and remains a top point-producer, currently 27th in NHL scoring. His comments about not feeling safe living in Toronto upon his departure were met with derision, ensuring a hostile reception awaits his eventual return to Scotiabank Arena.
Yet Toronto sports history suggests this initial bitterness often fades. Vince Carter was once public enemy number one in Toronto after forcing his way out of the Raptors; two decades later, the same fans cheered as his jersey was raised to the rafters. Mahovlich and Keon are now beloved elders of the franchise. Sittler and Clark serve as team ambassadors. Sundin, who left as a "selfish unpopular figure" in the eyes of many, is now revered as a club legend.
The cycle appears destined to repeat. While Marner's tenure ended with playoff disappointments and a messy divorce, his regular-season brilliance and franchise records for a winger will, in time, likely overshadow the acrimony. For now, the focus is on the ice in Vegas, where the latest protagonist in Toronto's enduring saga of complicated goodbyes faces his former team.
