Maple Leafs GM Details Process Leading to Mitch Marner Sign-and-Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Mitch Marner’s nine-season run with the Toronto Maple Leafs officially ended Tuesday when the team finalized a sign-and-trade sending him to the Vegas Golden Knights. In return, Toronto acquired center Nicolas Roy.

TORONTO -- Mitch Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The 28-year-old forward, who could have become an unrestricted free agent, signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with Toronto prior to the trade. It has an average annual value of $12 million.

Marner was set to hit unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career after his contract with the Maple Leafs expired on June 30. Rather than hit the open market, he was dealt to Vegas in exchange for Nic Roy and proceeded to sign an eight-year contract worth $12 million per season.