For the first time in 10 years, the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t make the playoffs, and their subsequent reward for that was landing the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. For a team that was nervous they wouldn’t even get a first round pick, first overall pick seems almost unbelievable. And in a draft class as stacked as the 2026 one is, we know Leafs fans are happy.

Just before the July 1st trade deadline in 2025, the Leafs completed a sign and trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, with Marner heading to Vegas and the Leafs getting Nick Roy in return. It’s difficult to assess exactly how that trade panned out – Marner was a UFA, so many Leafs fans were just grateful they got a return at all – but looking at Marner’s stats from his first year in Vegas certainly paints an interesting picture.