One of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ former “Core Four”, Mitch Marner’s bitter and noisy exit from the Leafs triggered different opinions from insiders and fans alike. In his heartfelt farewell note as he left the team to join the Vegas Golden Knights, Marner stated that he had always wished to bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto. That was always the goal, and I came up short.”
Even though Marner could not help the Leafs become Stanley Cup champions, his influence remains undeniable. Writing for “The Athletic,” Jonas Siegel underlined what the Ontario native meant for the Leafs: “Marner wasn’t just a good player for the Maple Leafs. He was a great player, one of the greatest in more than 100 years of franchise history.” Marner’s exit was a landmark shift, and fans have qualms about the Leafs’ future without him.
Toronto Maple Leafs Fans Cynical About Future After Mitch Marner Farewell
Drafted fourth overall by the Leafs in 2015, Marner has spent nine seasons with the team. So far, he has accumulated 741 points in 657 regular-season games and averaged around 20 minutes on ice per game. From the very start of his NHL career, Marner stood out. “By his third season, Marner was a flat-out star. Playing alongside Zach Hyman and the newly signed John Tavares, he became the first Leaf in over 20 years to register 94 points in a season.”
Years later, the 28-year-old is still turning heads, as he is featured in the fifth position on the NHL’s list of the top 20 wingers. Losing a player of Marner’s stature can be challenging for the team and fanbase. Fans also believe that the Leafs’ performance is bound to face the adverse circumstances of Marner’s exit.
According to a survey by “The Athletic,” around twenty-four percent of pollers believed the Leafs would take the most significant step back in the East. Thirty percent thought that it would be the Washington Capitals, ten percent opined that it would be the Boston Bruins, seven percent believed that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be the one to take the biggest step back in the upcoming season, and five percent thought that it would be the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Writing on the subject, James Mirtle stated that the Toronto front office’s inability to find a worthwhile replacement for Marner could have encouraged negative beliefs among fans.
“And many are down on the Leafs after they lost Mitch Marner and failed to find another top-line winger to replace him. We’ll see if their by-committee approach — or an in-season addition — can get them close to last season’s 102 points.”
Matias Maccelli, acquired from the Utah Mammoth, has an unparalleled passion for the game. Shane Doan, who has known the winger since his days with the Arizona Coyotes, has confidence in him. Although nowhere near Marner’s stature, Maccelli’s game will be one to look out for in the upcoming season.
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Moreover, winger William Nylander is expected to be in phenomenal form next season. This offseason has been a busy one for him. Nylander received a hockey player’s highest honor in Sweden, the Golden Puck. He also placed sixth in the NHL’s list of the top 20 wingers. It remains to be seen whether the Maple Leafs can prove their worth despite losing a star player.
