Few people are happier today than Mitch Marner. Following the Vegas Golden Knights’ sweep of the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, the ex-Toronto Maple Leafs forward is glowing, given he’s moving on to the Stanley Cup Final.
Following the Game 3 comeback and the Game 4 series-clinching win, Marner didn’t waste any time drawing an indirect contrast between his Vegas Golden Knights teammates and his former running buddies in Toronto. In fact, while speaking to reporters following the Game 3 win, Marner made it sound like he wasn’t buddies at all with the likes of Auston Matthews or William Nylander.
What Did Marner Say About Toronto?
It wasn’t really what Marner said about Toronto, but it was how he phrased his appreciation for his Vegas teammates that stood out in Leafs Nation.
“We have an older group that just stays patient and stays calm,” Marner said. “We don’t turn on each other, we don’t get mad at each other.”
The comments were framed as praise for Vegas, but many interpreted them as a pointed remark aimed at his old squad in Toronto. During his years with the Maple Leafs, the team frequently faced criticism for fracturing under pressure. If things didn’t come easily for the Maple Leafs, they buckled, and constant playoff disappointments led to infighting, often bringing on visible tension, finger-pointing, and emotional outbursts for the world to see on camera.
Marner often found himself on the receiving end of teammates’ frustration. A memorable viral clip captured Nylander telling him on the bench, “Grow up, bro, this isn’t junior hockey.” It became a huge issue in Toronto (as many storylines tend to do), but that moment underscored deeper issues that were speculated to be one of the catalysts for Marner wanting out.
Within the core group of Marner, Nylander, and Matthews, Marner often felt like the outsider. All the way back to his contract negotiations, much of what happened with him in Toronto seemed like a reactionary, often emotional response. He needed a change, and he jumped on it when his contract situation allowed him to play his card and force Toronto into a trade.
Not Shockingly, Marner Has Excelled in Vegas
Now thriving in a different setting, Marner appears relieved. His not-so-subtle shot was just his way of reminding everyone that the grass can be greener on the other side. Elliotte Friedman noted on the 32 Thoughts podcast:
“I think the decreased intensity of the spotlight is a huge thing. I think the fact that he joined a team with a number of battle-tested and playoff-successful players is another factor. You know, he’s obviously fits in so well with Stone, Eichel, and since William Karlsson’s come back, and all the role players who know what it takes to win. I think that’s a huge thing.”
Friedman added, “…but I think the distance he put between himself and his home base was another huge factor in this and one that should not be underestimated.”
That a change of scenery — and more importantly, different teammates — has unlocked a better version of Marner. His comments and continued thanks to his current teammates, contrasted with the quicker-to-fracture Leafs locker room he left behind, are having a huge impact on his chances of winning the Conn Smythe Trophy this season.
Not surprisingly, he’s taking the opportunities given to remind everyone that he might not have been the issue in Toronto. Maybe he’ll never say it like Nazem Kadri did when he won the Cup and called out teams that gave up on him. It doesn’t mean Marner isn’t thinking it.
Right after the Colorado Avalanche won the 2022 Stanley Cup in Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Kadri said: “For everyone that thought I was a liability in the playoffs, you can kiss my a–.”
Will Marner Pull a Kadri?
So, is Marner right to start laying in jabs? In many ways, yes. The Maple Leafs have long been accused of creating their own problems through internal bickering and difficulty maintaining unity when games get ugly. They’ve continued to do so with Marner gone. And while he was there, Marner endured plenty of heat from fans, media, and teammates.
His decision to call attention — even subtly — to a healthier situation in Vegas feels earned after years in Toronto.
Will his jabs ever turn into a knockout punch? Time will tell. Vegas has one more series to win. So too, he doesn’t seem to be that kind of person. Still, vindication changes things, and if he wins the Stanley Cup, Marner will certainly feel vindicated.
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