Toronto Maple Leafs fans might hate Mitch Marner's guts. They might burn his jerseys and prepare their vocal cords for a slathering of boos come January 23, 2026. However, the Maple Leafs organization doesn't necessarily have the same hatred as the fans.
In fact, one can say they have nothing but kind words for the former "Core Four" member. As Marner goes from the "Core Four" to the "12-Pack," Maple Leafs megastar Auston Matthews had some wonderful words for his former teammate on Wednesday.
“it’s me💁🏼♀️ it’s auston🙄” pic.twitter.com/hE3xPNKZBZ
— syd⁸⁷❤️🔥 (@crosbysangels) December 12, 2024
No, not that one. Ladies and gentlemen, the guy who's ranked worse than Jack Eichel in the NHL Network's Top-20 centers list. It's more along the lines of this:
"We obviously miss him. He's a great friend, great teammate."Auston Matthews on Mitch Marner
He also added that he understood why Marner left, talking about the business side of things:
"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."Auston Matthews
Matthews also talked about how the Maple Leafs would bounce back and how they had a great team (you know, typical stuff you're supposed to say after losing a big name like Marner). But that goes back to a broader point: how Mitch Marner is well-respected within the Maple Leafs organization.
How Auston Matthews' comments show that Mitch Marner will be a great Vegas Golden Knights teammate
Let's be honest. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been underwhelming during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Sure, they have a Stanley Cup-winning roster on paper. However, that doesn't amount to anything if they can barely get past the first round.
Part of that problem has been Marner, who comes to the Golden Knights with a less-than-sterling reputation. 13 career goals and 50 career assists during the postseason (70 career games) isn't going to inspire many people. However, he has turned the corner with a solid 2025 performance (Marner scored two goals and 11 assists).
That's probably why Matthews was high on his former teammate as he heads to the Vegas Golden Knights. Sometimes, it takes turning a new "leaf" to become a better player and help your crew.
You'll get high marks in the process, earning recognition from your teammates and your peers. Waka! Waka!
Who knows? Perhaps getting paired with a proven playoff performer in Jack Eichel (10 goals and 33 assists in 40 career postseason games) might be what the doctor ordered. That's what happened with the former Buffalo Sabres star as he left a perennial loser for the Golden Knights. Lo and behold, he struck gold and became one of the most feared centers in the modern NHL landscape.
That could be what awaits Marner as he starts a new adventure in Las Vegas. He could see his talents unleashed with a hungry Golden Knights team in 2025-26, bolstered by scoring talent all around him. It could come from Eichel himself or from Pavel Dorofeyev or even from Tomas Hertl on the power play. Regardless, the moral of the story is that Auston Matthews has his endorsement.