The Mitch Marner trade tree is now complete and the final result speaks for itself
Photo credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Mitch Marner's trade to the Vegas Golden Knights could be considered a bust given the Maple Leafs dealt Nic Roy away merely months later, and it shows a domino effect that could affect Toronto for years to come.
When Toronto dealt Marner this summer it sparked the end of the 'Core Four' era and marked a huge step in the direction of the Maple Leafs -- which was gone nine months later.
How Mitch Marner became Nic Roy who became a conditional first-round pick
It's their inability to really pull together a deal that reflected the value of a perennial 90+ point scorer who just had his first 100-point season and ready to get paid.
That should have brought back a big haul, but instead a rushed last-minute deal brought in Nic Roy.
His stint here in Toronto was admirable yet brief, as he only appeared in 59 games (20 points) for the team before being traded yet again but this time at the deadline to Colorado for a conditional first and fifth round pick.
Granted, getting a first-round pick in the end of things is a massive coup for the Maple Leafs, who consistently undersold at the deadline and it's a minor bright spot in a murky season.
Trade Timeline:
Summer 2025: Vegas acquires Mitch Marner, Toronto acquires Nicholas Roy
2025-26 Season: Roy plays 59 games, traded at the deadline for conditional 2027 first and 2026 fifth-round picks
Result: Mitch Marner turns into a conditional first and fifth round pick.
What Marner is doing in Vegas while the trade tree shrinks in Toronto
But Marner doesn't mind the change of scenery, as he has put up 65 points in 63 games (18 goals, 47 assists) while also anchoring the middle, being an Olympian, fighting for a Pacific Division title, and has a great shot at winning his first Cup.
Toronto on the flip side, had Marner's return reduced to a pick that they got just over half a season out of.
They also never gave him a shot in the top-six and flipped him for a pick that couldn't come into play until 2028.
Not to mention the cautious optimism of a player like William Nylander, who wasn't sure if these struggles were a one-off.
What the final branch of the trade tree could actually become
With the condition of the pick being Top-10 protected, there's always a chance that Colorado has a season like Toronto does this year, slides into a Top-10 pick and leaves the Maple Leafs empty-handed.
If Toronto is safe, that moves into an unprotected 2028 first-rounder which is great news, but it's unlikely that a well-built machine like Colorado will falter long enough for Toronto to take advantage.
Best case scenario: Colorado stays elite, Toronto gets a late-round first in 2027 they can use to draft or trade for another asset.
Worst case scenario: Colorado free-falls into the Top-10, the pick stays with them, and Toronto doesn't have a pick until 2028 (Three years from the Marner deal before a pick in Round One).
Likeliest scenario: Colorado does Colorado things and continues to dominate, and Toronto gets a late 2027 selection. It's useful for sure, but it's nowhere near the value Marner holds.
For all the greatness Mitch Marner brought to the Maple Leafs in his tenure here, management turned his departure into a stinging farewell gift.
The potential to not see a draft pick in the first round for another three years.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Maple Leafs rejected Montreal Canadiens' trade offer for Matthew Knies: 'It's a business'
Maple Leafs rejected Montreal Canadiens' trade offer for Matthew Knies: 'It's a business'
Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
MARS 11|873 ANSWERS The Mitch Marner trade tree is now complete and the final result speaks for itself Do you think Toronto failed with the Mitch Marner trade? | ||
| Yes | 720 | 82.5 % |
| No | 153 | 17.5 % |
| List of polls | ||