One stat shows that Mitch Marner is much better than people give him credit for

It's easy to gush at Mitch Marner's production during the 2026 postseason. Entering Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche, the Canadian Olympian led the NHL in postseason points with 21. On top of that, he was tied for third in postseason goals with seven.

However, a new stat reveals how effective Marner has been. Just look at how he's skating during the Western Conference Final against the Avalanche. You'll see that his skating is leaps and bounds ahead of his fellow participants... literally.

Just under 0.6 ixG in the series, Marner is cooking his competition. He's leading the series in the skating department, creating numerous odd-man rushes for the Golden Knights. It's what has created an unstoppable attack for Vegas, turning them into a full-functioning unit.

But it goes beyond that. He's proving the skeptics wrong, showing that it wasn't really his fault with his previous team. Yes, it was the old flame itself that was the problem, where even superstars like Auston Matthews are having second thoughts about their tenure. Matthews in a "good place" after an online meeting?

We'll see about that. I can tell you that it won't end well.

The Golden Knights—and Mitch Marner—continue to win with the latest statistic, even to the chagrin of Toronto Maple Leafs fans

The Golden Knights are one win away from their third Stanley Cup Final in franchise history. They're on the cusp of proving a ton of critics wrong, especially after nearly falling out of the playoff picture. Thank goodness that Vegas relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties (and continues to keep him away from the competition), eh?

If the Golden Knights complete the sweep of the Colorado Avalanche, it'll invoke all sorts of conversation. That will include what truly went wrong in Toronto (almost everything) and why Marner is thriving with the Golden Knights (it's because he's on a more structurally sound team with more depth).

Of course, that conversation can also happen in five, six, or even seven games. However, the premise will be the same. It'll ask what was truly going on with the Maple Leafs' supporting cast. It'll also ask what the structural build was like with Toronto and whether it was wise to build a team with heavy contracts.

Obviously, the answer to that last question is "no." Yes, the Golden Knights have had their fair share of problems during the regular season. They've gotten rid of their old head coach and brought in John Tortorella. Yet, the new head coach has unlocked something within Marner, making him into a force.

Maple Leafs fans better hope that the Carolina Hurricanes win the Eastern Conference Final. If it's a Montreal Canadiens-Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Final, it'll be the longest month of June ever experienced in Toronto. Even worse, it could end with Marner skating his way to a Conn Smythe.

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