The departure of Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs continues to be a major talking point in the NHL. After nine seasons with the team, Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, signing an eight-year, $96 million contract extension.
Elliotte Friedman of the "32 Thoughts Podcast" has likened the situation to a difficult divorce, with Leafs fans caught in the middle. He suggests that dwelling on the past is unproductive and that the team and its fans should move on. Friedman stated, "At some point, if someone doesn't want to be with you anymore, you've just got to take the L and go, 'Okay'". He argues that constantly revisiting the breakup only reopens old wounds.
Friedman draws a parallel to Mikko Rantanen's situation with Colorado and a decision not to stay with Carolina, noting that dwelling on what might have been is fruitless. He points out that the full story behind Marner's departure may not be known for years.
TSN also interviewed Marner, who described his move as "bittersweet". He spoke about the difficulty of saying goodbye to his hometown team.
General Manager Brad Treliving has expressed interest in seeing how new additions and current players can step up to fill the void left by Marner. Despite Marner's departure, Auston Matthews has given a positive update, saying his health is good heading into training camp. Matthews acknowledged Marner's departure, stating, "We'll obviously miss him...He's a great friend, great teammate". However, he emphasized the need to stay focused and do whatever it takes to win. Matthews added, "That's kind of the business side of it, that's tough...But obviously wish him nothing but the best...we'll just keep it moving".
The Maple Leafs have made other moves, including signing goaltender Dennis Hildeby to a three-year contract extension. Coach Craig Berube is looking to build on the progress made last season, even with the changes to the team's core. One key question is whether Auston Matthews can replicate his previous success without Marner on his right side.
As the Maple Leafs prepare for the 2025-26 season, the focus is on moving forward and building a contender without Marner. The team hopes that new players will rise to the occasion and that the remaining core can lead them to success.
