Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon tells Mitch Marner critics to 'get over it'

The Vegas Golden Knights officially clinched their spot in the Stanley Cup Final after sweeping the Colorado Avalanche. The team made it this far this year due in part to the incredible play of Mitch Marner, who leads all players in the playoffs with 21 points.

With the Golden Knights advancing further and further in the playoffs, and Marner putting up more points by the game, there was angst from Toronto Maple Leafs fans. Of course, Marner spent the first nine years of his NHL career with the Maple Leafs. While solidifying himself as one of the top young stars in the game, Maple Leafs fans were disgruntled with him due to his high salary, lack of success in the playoffs, and expressing his desire to no-resign in Toronto. Marner has spoken about how the constant criticism in Toronto affected him and his family. Now that Marner is four wins away from winning a Stanley Cup in his first year out of Toronto, some Maple Leafs fans might feel sick or be a bit louder about rooting for the Eastern Conference champion in the Stanley Cup Final.

During a much-talked about appearance on TSN's OverDrive on Thursday, Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon discussed Marner's success in Vegas one year after leaving Toronto. When talking about Maple Leafs fans, McCrimmon said "at some point, you gotta get over it."

The Golden Knights GM used an ex-girlfriend analogy to defend Mitch Marner

"I know it's Toronto. I know it's Mitch Marner. I know it's polarizing, but for me, it's a little bit about, the guy's ex-girlfriend, moving away and doing well. At some point, you gotta get over it," said McCrimmon. "He's a good person. He's a great teammate. He's really well liked, well respected by his team. He's happy, so that's what we're dealing with."

McCrimmon knows the player they got from the Maple Leafs last year in a trade before free agency. That led to Marner and the Golden Knights to agree to terms on an eight-year, $96 million contract. Year 1 into the deal, Marner turned into the league's leading scorer in the playoffs and helped lead them to their third Western Conference Championship.

During his nine years with the Maple Leafs, where he made the playoffs every season, Marner had just 13 goals to his credit through 70 games. In his first playoff run with Vegas, he made it past the second round for the first time in his career, and has seven goals to his credit through just 16 games. If the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup, Marner very well could take home the Conn Smythe Trophy. That would certainly irritate a portion of the Maple Leafs fanbase, that's for sure.

As for the Leafs, they are currently in the start of their process with John Chayka as general manager and Mats Sundin as senior executive adviser of hockey operations. They did secure the No. 1 pick, which could allow them to draft Marner's replacement in Gavin McKenna. But they have to try and get captain and star Auston Matthews on board, as reports indicate he wants to see the plan Chayka and Sundin have for the team before he commits. If Matthews does want out, talk about a nightmare year for the Maple Leafs. First letting Marner go and watch him make it to the Stanley Cup Final immediately, then potentially having to trade Matthews to another team.

If Marner does win the Stanley Cup in his first year away from Toronto, Maple Leafs fans may feel like New York Giants fans who watched Saquon Barkley win the Super Bowl with the rival Philadelphia Eagles or Oklahoma City Thunder fans watching Kevin Durant win the NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors.

McCrimmon knows the kind of player he has in Marner, given what he's seen in his first year. That's why he sent the message to disgruntled Leafs fans to just move on.

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