Mitch Marner is once again under the microscope as the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves on the brink of elimination. With their Game 5 loss to the Florida Panthers, the Leafs now trail 3-2 in the second-round playoff series.
The spotlight, as it often does, has landed squarely on Marner, and many fans and analysts believe the star forward hasn’t lived up to his hefty contract when it matters most.
Mitch Marner’s Playoff Performance Sparks Wave of Criticism
Despite being one of the league’s top earners at $11 million per year, Marner’s playoff production continues to fall short. In 68 postseason games, he’s scored just 12 goals, a stat line that critics say doesn’t justify the kind of contract he’s reportedly set to demand next.
Rumors suggest Marner could be seeking a deal north of $14 million, further fueling frustrations.
“That’s not a guy you pay 14+ million bucks for,” one fan tweeted bluntly after the Leafs’ Game 5 collapse.
“I’ve never been more convinced that Mitch Marner needs to leave Toronto and never play another game there,” wrote one fan, summing up the growing discontent among Leafs supporters.
While some fans advocated for keeping veterans like John Tavares and reallocating Marner’s cap hit toward players like Sam Bennett and another reliable forward, others questioned the wisdom of committing big money to a player nearing 30 who “does not play his best in the playoffs.”
The criticism was sharp, with one tweet pointing out Marner’s paltry 12 goals in 68 playoff games despite his $11 million salary. Another warned curious Blackhawks fans to think twice after his latest postseason no-show, calling that game “his rule, not an exception.”
Why Mitch Marner’s Contract Is Under Scrutiny Amid Leafs’ Postseason Struggles
The criticism hasn’t been limited to social media. Former NHL player Jay Rosehill slammed both Marner and Auston Matthews on a recent broadcast, pointing out their lack of intensity during crucial moments.
“Your engine is what gets you there,” Rosehill said, “and you lead with your superstars. Marner has one style of play, and when the going gets tough, he spins and throws no-look passes up the middle. That doesn’t cut it in the playoffs. It never has, and it never will.”
Some fans argue that keeping Marner could hurt the team’s long-term competitiveness. Signing a player entering his late 20s to a max contract, particularly one whose playoff output is routinely underwhelming, might not make sense for a team still trying to find its postseason identity.
Others, however, believe Marner’s playoff woes are part of a larger pattern that also includes Matthews. Together, the duo has consistently come up short in the big moments, failing to dominate against elite playoff teams like the Panthers. Observers note their regular season brilliance hasn’t translated when games are more physical, scrappy, and demanding.
Still, Marner remains focused on the task at hand. When asked if he’d thought about his future in Toronto following Game 5, he dismissed the notion.
“No, no thoughts of that at all,” Marner told reporters [via nhl.com]. “We have to reset. It’s obviously not the spot we want to be in, but you can’t do anything about it now. We have to go into Florida and win a hockey game.”
Game 6 will take place Friday, May 16, at 8 p.m. ET. A loss would not only end the Leafs’ season but could signal the end of the Marner era in Toronto.
With growing calls to restructure the roster and let Marner walk, the pressure is on. If Toronto hopes to avoid another early exit, their stars, especially Mitch Marner, must finally rise to the occasion.