In the world of the NHL, sometimes everyone loves to hate the tough guy.
And Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Ryan Reaves is one of the toughest there is. The 38-year-old recorded 103 hits throughout the 2024-25 season. But this time, instead of hitting people, he’s helping out a former teammate who’s in need of support during a recent adjustment period.
Former Leaf star Mitch Marner, who was dealt away by his hometown franchise in free agency, has been receiving quite some hate online as a result of his blockbuster move to the Vegas Golden Knights but Reaves has something to say about how Toronto fans have been voicing their displeasure.
Leafs’ Ryan Reaves Defends Mitch Marner’s Move
On Tuesday’s edition of The Cam & Strick Podcast, Reaves made his stance on Marner going to the Golden Knights crystal clear – he’s happy for Marner’s next career journey.
“Mitchie earned the right to go wherever he wants, and he’s dedicated a lot of his career, his whole career, to Toronto. He’s a hometown guy and he’s poured everything he had into it; sometimes it’s just time to move on.
I’m happy for him [and] he deserved the contract he got. I wish him the best.”
Marner moved to Vegas in a sign-and-trade with the Maple Leafs before NHL free agency started on July 1. The Golden Knights sent over center Nicolas Roy to Toronto and then signed Marner to an eight-year, $96 million contract.
Unfortunately for Marner, this move has damaged the Canadaian native’s reputation with fans immensely.
Toronto Fans Resent Mitch Marner
Ever since Marner was acquired on July 1, it seems league fans have been out for blood across social media.
Congrats, Vegas. You just ensured yourselves of future playoff busts. But hey, you beat the Panthers in 2023. That’s the only thing you have to hold over their heads. But when Florida wins three more Cups, I guarantee no one in Sunrise will even remember 2023.
— John A. Labban (@johnalabban4629) June 30, 2025
mitch marner trade to vegas is like if zayn left one direction and joined the wanted
— syd 🌱 (@ginasfsydnee) June 30, 2025
“Mitch Marner finally gets to ruin another hockey city,” one fan said on X.
“They can have him…. He’ll be the biggest regret the city of Vegas has ever seen,” another said.
The fans have been so bad that even Reaves, with his tough-guy on-ice persona as a ferocious fighter, has come to his defense.
“I think [the fans] can be a little ruthless to him. I guess just because he’s a hometown guy and sometimes fans want to point fingers at somebody.
I think there’s two sides to the fans in Toronto; there are ones who want to win so bad that they’re willing to drag anybody through the dirt, and then there’s just the loyal fans who want to cheer on a good team,” Reaves said on the podcast.
“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of fans that do a lot of both. It’s tough for any player when you’re reading all [of] the hate you get. It’s probably just frustrating.”
Hopefully, for Marner’s sake, when the 2025-26 NHL regular season kicks off on Oct. 7, fans and players alike will all be happy for his next chapter.
Oh ya it’s all Mitch Marners fault that why he had more playoff points that the 15 million woosie Mathews Mathews isn’t toughenough to playing the WHL see how many 50 goal seasons he has with mitch gone your all a bunch of idiot losers Mitch was snd would have been the greatest leaf ever if not for all you idiots
Seriously people…..Mitch Marner is NOT the sole reason Totonto made the playoffs in ANY season so stop treating this 28 year old KID like he’s a saint. There are several other players on a TEAM and getting there is not a solo effort.
Look at the stats when it really truly mattered, in the playoffs. These speak for themselves and frankly he was at the bottom of the list and that is a black and white statement as to his level of effort and contribution.
Then there is the fact he was discussing things with Vegas players during the Four Nations. Tampering is possible for sure but that us for NHL legal to sort. He had one foot out the door folks and was not done wrong in Toronto when he was offered 13 million a year yes shorter term but with a looming cap increase that with success could have increased his future contract and he still left. I like Marner but sadly he was becoming a young dude with a bigger ego and lack of production in the playoffs. Wishing him well but face it as fans we do not know the whole story.
Good luck in Vegas Mitchy, sorry you weren’t treated fairly these past couple of years. You took way to much of the blame for a team that wasn’t built to win in the playoffs, until this past season. If the Leafs management had the insight to go out and get Marchand instead of the Panthers snatching him up for little return, maybe the Leafs would have been the team having a Stanley Cup parade this spring. After all the Leafs did give up a first to get Laughton, and look how that worked out for them. Take care and I hope you and the family enjoy Vegas.