For years, the name ‘Mitch Marner’ was synonymous with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marner, one quarter of the ‘Core Four’ alongside Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares, was supposed to help bring Toronto its first Stanley Cup since 1967.
That’s not how things worked out.
Instead of becoming a dynasty, the Maple Leafs gained a reputation as ‘playoff chokers.’ After suffering six consecutive first-round exits, they finally broke through in 2023 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. But instead of building off that success, the Maple Leafs bowed out in the second round and went on to win just one round in the next two seasons.
With 741 points in 657 games, Marner left Toronto as the fifth-highest scorer in franchise history. And yet, he finished his Maple Leafs tenure to a chorus of boos from the same fans who used to chant his name.
So, he signed an eight-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights last summer and permanently closed the Maple Leafs chapter of his life.
Because the Golden Knights and the Maple Leafs are in different conferences, they only meet twice a year. They’ll face each other twice in the next eight days, beginning on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena.
Marner, who has 47 points in 45 games with the Golden Knights this season, isn’t fanning the flames leading up to his first meeting with his former team. Instead, he’s worrying about what he can control. It’s just business as usual.
“I haven’t thought about it until right now,” said Marner on Wednesday of the impending matchup. “I’ve been trying to just focus on our games and our next opponent. I’m sure on the plane ride home, it’s going to hit more, that it’s tomorrow night. I don’t think I have to look at it any differently, just look at it as another hockey game.”
Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy understands that, even if it’s just another game for Marner, Thursday’s matchup against the Maple Leafs isn’t insignificant.
“At the end of the day, he was there for a long time. There’s always turnover every year, but I’m sure he has real close friendships with a lot of those guys, and that can be hard.
“For me, it’s another game,” Cassidy finished. “We’ll use him like we usually do. And hopefully, you know, get him a few extra shifts here and there. Because I’m sure he’s going to be highly motivated.”
Marner was a Maple Lead for almost a decade. But if he struggles on Thursday, he’ll find all the support he needs inside the Golden Knights’ locker room.
“I think the guys in the room will be able to walk him through it,” said Cassidy. “Mark Stone went through it with Ottawa, Jack [Eichel]’s gone through it in Buffalo. [Alex Pietrangelo] may be around; he did it with St. Louis.”
Cassidy is sympathetic to Marner’s situation. And he knows that, whatever happens, at the end of the day, it’s just another game.
“Hopefully, he just goes out there and plays his game,” said Cassidy. “He’s a great player. And then it’s behind him. Before you know it, we’re playing our next game.”
Cassidy knows exactly what his team needs to do to support Marner on Thursday.
“Play well,” he said. “Take the pressure off him that way.”
Marner said he still keeps in touch with many of his former Maple Leafs teammates.
“I’ve checked in with them throughout the year,” said Marner after Wednesday’s overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings. “I mean, I’m still obviously very good buddies with a lot of them. I check in with them just to see how they’re doing, how their families are doing; I talked to them over Christmas and the holidays.
“Like I said, I got really close with a lot of them there,” Marner finished. “You know, like brothers.”
