In today’s second stage of the NHL draft, the Leafs have started the day off with a trade. Patrick Marleau was sent to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 6th round pick in 2020. The Leafs also paid the Hurricanes a top-10 protected first round pick in 2020 and a 7th round pick in 2020.

In saying goodbye to only his second team in such a long and storied career, Patrick took to his wife Christina’s Twitter page to post a farewell goodbye to us, as well as specifically Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner:

It’s time for us as fans of the Leafs to say goodbye to Patrick Marleau in return.

Thank you Patrick Marleau for your contribution to our Toronto Maple Leafs. Your influence as a father figure and goal scoring machine will not be forgotten or overlooked. You are one of the greatest players in Canadian and NHL history and we are blessed to get to say that you once played for our historic franchise.

Your family, too, was a wonderful addition to ours. We will miss seeing your wife and kids around the team, because they always brought smiles to our faces. You are a group of incredibly lovely people and we were lucky to get to know all of you during your time here.

I hope you have a successful season this year to add to your overtly successful career, and we will all be cheering for you when you come back to Toronto even though you won’t be wearing the Maple Leaf.

It warms my heart to know that you had such a positive experience in Toronto playing for us. I hope you remember us as fondly as we’ll remember you.

Farewell, Patrick.

— Leaf Nation