What a difference a year makes for Vegas Golden Knights dynamic forward Mitch Marner.
Hockey fans might remember when, last spring, which was his ninth season as a Toronto Maple Leaf, this 29-year-old was the focus of unacceptable criticism from Leafs media and fans alike following the team’s disappointing 2025 Eastern Conference Game 7 6-1 loss against the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Florida Panthers.
In that game, Marner had only two shots on goal and finished with a plus-minus of -2. This skilled forward, who was coming off a regular season best 102 points (27 goals, 75 assists) finished that spring with two playoff goals along with 13 points and a plus/minus of -1. Once again Marner found himself heavily criticized by fans and media alike only this time is was to the point where Marner, who was a pending unrestricted free agent, felt threatened and harassed along with fearing for his family’s safety. Eventually, this led the veteran forward opting to leave the Leafs.
That finally became a reality when on June 30, 2025, what was an ugly departure became official when Marner was involved in a sign and trade when soon after signing a lucrative eight-year $96 million-dollar deal, he was shipped to the Golden Knights in a deal which brought forward Nicolas Roy to Toronto.
A few months later in an August interview, Marner reminisced about what happened after that Game 7 playoff loss against Florida and why he believed it was time to move on with another team.
“I get home, Marner said. “I’m pretty disappointed, devastated. The thought also of it being my last Maple Leaf game at home. And then I get a phone call, probably five or so minutes after, from my wife’s father. He goes, I just want to let you know we’ve got people sending us screenshots of a guy posting your address online, saying if people want to come pay us a visit and say their goodbyes in a quotation way… here’s the address.”
Golden Knights Forward Mitch Marner Is Proving Leafs Critics Wrong
Marner, who was originally drafted in 2015, fourth overall by the Leafs, admitted that the thought of leaving Toronto for a fresh start was something he contemplated for the past couple of years. The treatment from fans got so bad that Marner even received threats and as a result had to hire security to watch his family.
While being passionate for a sports team like the Leafs is more than acceptable what’s not is harassing an athlete such as Marner to the point safety becomes a concern.
Now, a year later, Marner, as of May 25th, not only sits just in front of Vegas teammate Jack Eichel in playoff scoring with 21 points but has also showed the Leafs fans and media that he is definitely not a playoff underachiever.
Things have gone from stressful to unbelievable for Marner and his family as he currently finds himself leading all playoff scoring in playing a major factor in leading Vegas to the Western Conference Finals where they are currently playing this year’s Presidents Trophy winners Colorado Avalanche.
In other words, Marner with this post-season performance is getting the last laugh on Leafs fans/media who labelled him as a playoff underachiever.
Marner booed by Leafs Fans In Return To Scotiabank Arena
Approximately a week before that much anticipated Marner return to Scotiabank Arena, the million dollar question being raised by Toronto media was whether he will be booed when Vegas comes to town for that much anticipated January 23, 2026 game.
Marner, who would go on to play 17:25 of an eventual 6-3 Golden Knights win against the Leafs was despite having many big nights during his time as a Leaf booed during warmups and again prior to the National Anthem. However, to the fans credit, he did receive some nice applause along with some boos when he was honored on the scoreboard for what he accomplished as a Leaf.
Besides being labelled a playoff underachiever and not wanting to sign a contract extension, Marner also unjustly received some heat in his final year in Toronto when at the 2025 trading deadline, he waived his no-trade clause in vetoing a potential trade to the Carolina Hurricanes involving forward Mikko Rantanen. It’s pretty unacceptable and wrong for Leafs fans to hold that against Marner whose wife was at the time about six or seven months with their child.
Vegas Coach John Tortorella Doesn’t Hold Back When Talking About Leafs Fans Treatment Towards Marner
Earlier in the playoffs, Golden Knights coach John Tortorella couldn’t say enough good things about Marner. Shortly after a Golden Knights 6-2 Western Conference second round Game 3 win against the Anaheim Ducks, Tortorella was full of praise after Marner broke through with a four point (three goals, one assist) performance.
“You guys don’t see the stuff he does,” Tortorella said. “People here, people in Toronto, all the people that talk about this guy, they don’t see any of the things that he brings to a game, even if he doesn’t score a goal. I’ve known that coaching against him, so that narrative is a bunch of bullshit. Mitch doesn’t care. Mitch is a pro and he plays for us.”
One thing is certain and that’s even if Marner doesn’t win the Conn Smythe Trophy, he deserves a heartfelt apology from Leafs media and fans alike for the constant harassment which proved to be the eventual downfall for this skilled 100 point home town product from leaving town.
He has finally proven to Leafs Nation that he is not a playoff underachiever.
Main Image: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
