The hockey world is watching in surprise as Mitch Marner dominates the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs in his first season with the Vegas Golden Knights. After years of playoff criticism in Toronto, Marner has completely changed the narrative and now leads the NHL in postseason scoring.
Now, one of his former Toronto Maple Leafs teammates believes he knows what sparked the turnaround.
Former Leafs Teammate Breaks Down Mitch Marner’s Rise
Through 14 playoff games, Marner has piled up 19 points, including seven goals and 12 assists, making him one of the clear favorites for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
A lot of the criticism surrounding Mitch Marner during his time with the Maple Leafs came from his struggles in the biggest playoff games, especially after going scoreless in every Game 5, 6, and 7 from 2019 through 2025. That pressure eventually played a major role in his exit from Toronto.
Now, things look completely different.
Marner has already shattered his previous career high for playoff goals in a single postseason, scoring seven times after never scoring more than three goals in a playoff year with Toronto.
Former Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn, who played alongside Marner during the 2022-23 season, believes the star winger’s recent growth comes from experience. “My best guess would be the experience he’s gone through. Sometimes, when you fail, it’s a blessing in disguise and you learn from it, so I would say that’s part of it,” Schenn said.
Schenn believes Mitch Marner’s years of playoff disappointment in Toronto ultimately helped him grow mentally and emotionally, turning those difficult losses into valuable learning experiences.
He also pointed to Marner’s time with Team Canada at international events like the Four Nations tournament and the Winter Olympics, where he had the opportunity to play and practice alongside Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and Brad Marchand.
“You’re learning from those guys in the big games and how they approach the big games off the ice, how they practice. I would say probably being a part of that group would be a huge influence on maybe relaxing a little bit and understanding what those guys do who have been there and done it,” Shenn noted.
Schenn also pointed out how much responsibility Marner has always carried, regularly taking on tough defensive matchups while still being expected to drive the offense. From the power play to the penalty kill and heavy even-strength minutes, Marner was trusted to contribute in virtually every situation back in Toronto.
In Schenn’s eyes, all of those experiences have now combined to help Marner fully evolve into the player many expected him to become.
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With Marner playing arguably the best hockey of his career, Vegas suddenly looks like a serious Stanley Cup threat after opening the Western Conference Final with two straight wins over the Colorado Avalanche.
If everything goes his way, it will only be a matter of time before Marner ends up with a Stanley Cup ring.
