An emotional and visibly relieved Mitch Marner stood on the ice at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night, looking less like a player who had just swept the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche and more like someone who had finally let go of years of playoff pain and pressure.
Mitch Marner Moving On From Maple Leafs Struggles
For years in Toronto, Marner faced constant criticism over his playoff performances, especially after going scoreless in every Game 5, 6, and 7 between 2019 and 2025. As the pressure mounted season after season, it ultimately became a major factor in his departure from the Maple Leafs.
Now thriving in Vegas under head coach John Tortorella, Marner looks like a completely different player.
During the Golden Knights’ four-game sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche, Marner wasn’t just creating offense from the perimeter. He played with aggression, attacked loose pucks, battled in traffic, and drove play all over the ice while helping fuel Vegas’ transition game.
Leading the NHL postseason with 21 points, Marner has shown that his elite playmaking ability can thrive on the biggest stage.
After clinching the Western Conference title, Marner openly reflected on the difficult years he endured before arriving in Vegas. “It was a special moment,” Marner said. “There have been some dark times for myself in hockey, honestly. Thankful for my family.”
Marner also spoke emotionally about the support system that helped him navigate those struggles.
“You’ve got to have people around you that are amazing and love you,” he said. “That’s what my parents are to me, that’s what my wife is to me, my wife’s family. So many of my good buddies, people I’ve worked with through mental stuff. It’s never a one-man battle.”
Despite the outside criticism he faced over the years, Marner said he never stopped believing in himself. “I think I always believed in myself. I knew the guys in this locker room believed in me,” Marner said. “Just wanted to go out there, do my thing, do my work, and have belief in myself.”
While Marner is now heading to the Stanley Cup Final with Vegas, things look very different in Toronto.
The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs entirely in 2026 for the first time in a decade after sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic Division. The disappointing season led to the firing of GM Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube, with new leadership now taking over under general manager John Chayka and franchise legend Mats Sundin.
ALSO READ: ‘They Marginalized Him’: Canadiens Legend Accuses Maple Leafs of Hanging Mitch Marner Out to Dry
At the same time, Marner has completely reshaped the narrative surrounding his career.
In just a few weeks, he has gone from being heavily criticized for Toronto’s playoff failures to becoming one of the driving forces behind Vegas’ Stanley Cup run. And with either Carolina or Montreal waiting in the Final, the Golden Knights are now just four wins away from a championship, with Marner leading the charge.
Oh, and don’t forget about the 2026 Conn Smythe either.
