Maple Leafs Struggling to Replace Marner, Says Zeisberger
NHL.com staff writer Mike Zeisberger discussed the challenges the Toronto Maple Leafs face after losing Mitch Marner in a recent episode of the NHL @TheRink podcast. Marner departed Toronto this offseason via a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Marner's Impact and Current Performance
Marner is currently in the first season of an eight-year, $96 million contract with Vegas, earning an average annual value of $12 million. So far, he has recorded 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 12 games.
Maple Leafs' Team Performance
- Record: 8-5-1 following a 5-3 win against the Utah Mammoth at Scotiabank Arena.
- Scoring: Third in the league with an average of 3.62 goals per game.
- Defense: Ranked 28th in goals against, also allowing 3.62 goals per game.
- Power Play: Struggling at 30th place with 12.1% effectiveness.
Comparison to Last Season
In the last season, Marner scored 102 points, including 27 goals and 75 assists. He led Toronto in power play points with 33 (six goals, 27 assists), contributing to a power play success rate of 24.8%, tying the team for eighth in the NHL.
"He was seventh in voting for the Selke Trophy as the League's best defensive forward."
Maple Leafs' Attempts to Fill Marner's Role
To address the gap left by Marner, Toronto acquired forwards Nicolas Roy (via the Vegas trade), Matias Maccelli, and Dakota Joshua, and promoted Easton Cowan from the American Hockey League. Despite these moves, Zeisberger noted the top-six forward group still needs reinforcement.
"Myself personally, I'm not surprised."
Zeisberger suggested the team might have to explore the trade market again to compensate for Marner's absence.
Author's Summary: The Toronto Maple Leafs face significant challenges replacing Mitch Marner's offensive and defensive contributions, with current recruits yet to fully compensate for his departure.