Maple Leafs are still better off without Mitch Marner

"There has been no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled this season. At the root of the problem is their defensive play, specifically, their inability to defend their own end. Nineteen games into the season, Toronto has a goals-against average of 3.79, placing them 31st in the NHL. Their offence, meanwhile, sits fourth in the league at 3.53 goals per game. The contrast is jarring: the scoring has held up its end of the bargain, but the defence has completely collapsed."

"Marner never scored a goal in an elimination game, struggled to elevate his play in the postseason, negotiated aggressively for a premium contract, and was often hesitant to take accountability when things weren't going well. While teammates like William Nylander and John Tavares took more team-friendly deals to keep the roster competitive, Marner held firm on maximizing his value. Fair or not, the perception was clear: when the lights were brightest, Marner rarely delivered."

"With Nylander injured to start the series and Matthews hurt later on, Marner was expected to carry the team, yet he managed just one goal and two assists. In Game 7, he was nearly invisible and was on the ice for the series-ending play, allowing David Pastrnak to blow past him for the overtime winner. It cemented the narrative that Marner was a spectacular regular-season player who couldn't translate that dominance into playoff success."

After 19 games the Maple Leafs rank 31st with a 3.79 goals-against average while ranking fourth in scoring at 3.53 goals per game. The team's offensive production has remained strong but defensive breakdowns in their own end have produced a stark contrast and poor results. Mitch Marner produced elite regular-season totals, including a 102-point 2024-25 campaign, yet faced criticism for postseason inconsistency, lack of elimination-game scoring, and aggressive contract negotiation. Marner's limited impact in the 2023-24 playoff series against Boston, including being on the ice for the Game 7 overtime winner, reinforced those concerns.

Read at Editor In Leaf