No longer shadowed by the relentless scrutiny of his own countrymen, Mitch Marner can finally turn his full attention to the ice. The star forward did just that this week, debuting at training camp with his new club, the Vegas Golden Knights.
Winners of the 2023 Stanley Cup, the Golden Knights secured Marner in a landmark eight-year, $96 million sign-and-trade agreement — a transaction that once again proved their willingness and ability to contend for a Stanley Cup championship this season.
“We’ve never had a season where we thought about taking a step back,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon told reporters. “That’s not who we are. It’s pedal to the floor.”
A Fresh Start
It’s entirely reasonable to anticipate that a player of Marner’s caliber is poised for a career-defining season. The 28-year-old winger had long been a lightning rod in Toronto, forced to navigate the city’s relentless spotlight and the heavy expectations of wearing the Maple Leaf. Yet even under that pressure, Marner reached new heights last season, producing a career-best 102 points (27 goals, 75 assists). What has not changed, however, is Toronto’s recurring postseason frustration.
The Maple Leafs once again fell short in the playoffs, and the fan base’s growing impatience boiled over in unsettling fashion. Disillusioned supporters began tossing jerseys and apparel onto the ice, which drew widespread condemnation. Veteran broadcaster Eddie Olczyk described the behavior as “dangerous” and said those involved should face arrest, underscoring the sharp divide between fan passion and the standards of respect expected at the professional level. On the other hand, Leafs fans' frustrations are understandable to an extent. Lyndon Johnson was the President of the United States the last time the Leafs hoisted the Stanley Cup.
But for Marner, the focus has shifted to simply enjoying the moment—from the warm weather to the beautiful scenery.
“It’s been a lot of fun getting to know the area,” he stated. “The sun, the heat, the mountains — it’s been awesome. The dog’s still adjusting to the heat, but we’re loving it here.”
The parallels between Eichel and Marner
Beyond Marner’s elite scoring touch, Golden Knights executives also recognized the stylistic parallels between him and Jack Eichel. Both are cerebral playmakers, capable of dictating tempo and manufacturing offense with vision as much as skill. If their chemistry clicks, and with Ivan Barbashev complementing them as the relentless net-front presence, the result could be one of the league’s most dangerous forward trios.
Eichel is coming off a 94-point season (28 goals, 66 assists), but even he acknowledges another level to reach—namely, a greater willingness to fire the puck. As Wayne Gretzky’s famous mantra reminds us, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” It’s advice Eichel seems ready to embrace as he works to be more assertive with his release.
Marner, meanwhile, views the responsibility as shared.
“We’re both going to have to shoot it,” Marner said. “We’ll get our chances, and with Barby around the net hunting pucks, we just need to put it there.”