Golden Knights GM Explains Why Vegas Traded for Mitch Marner Early originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon didn’t want to wait for a bidding war when it came to acquiring Mitch Marner.

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.

The deal materialized after days of speculation about a trade involving Marner’s rights and after multiple previous failed attempts.