In their first year apart, both Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs have faced a rocky road. Marner, now with the Vegas Golden Knights, has struggled to find his groove, marking his least productive season in recent memory.
Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have had their own challenges, lacking depth beyond stars Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Matthews, in particular, has felt the absence of his former setup partner, with his stats taking a noticeable hit.
For Marner, the silver lining is that the most crucial part of the season is still ahead. The Golden Knights are in playoff contention, unlike the Maple Leafs, whose season is nearly over. A strong finish and a solid playoff performance could shift the narrative around Marner, though skepticism remains about whether he can turn things around quickly.
Critics have noted Marner's recent performances, with some describing him as "invisible" in a recent game for Vegas. Despite these criticisms, he hasn't had a terrible season, but the struggles in Vegas are evident. At 28, Marner has tallied 70 points (19 goals, 51 assists) over 72 games, marking his lowest per-game output since the 2017-18 season.
The move to Vegas came after a sign-and-trade deal with Toronto, where Marner was exchanged for Nicolas Roy before inking an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Golden Knights. It was clear that both Marner and the Maple Leafs needed a fresh start. However, the way things ended-fans turning on Marner and a lackluster trade return-didn't do either side any favors.
As Toronto's season winds down, their focus will likely shift to Vegas. All eyes will be on Marner to see if he can elevate his play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, something he struggled to do during his tenure with his hometown team.