Maple Leafs Struggling to Replace Mitch Marner, Says Zeisberger
Mike Zeisberger, NHL.com staff writer, discussed the Toronto Maple Leafs' challenges replacing Mitch Marner on the recent episode of the NHL @TheRink podcast. Marner, who spent nine seasons with Toronto, left this offseason in a sign-and-trade deal with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Marner's Impact and Current Performance
Marner is off to a strong start with Vegas, tallying 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 12 games during the first season of his eight-year, $96 million contract. The Maple Leafs currently hold an 8-5-1 record after their 5-3 win against the Utah Mammoth at Scotiabank Arena.
Team Statistics
- Third in the league for goals per game: 3.62
- 28th in goals against: 3.62
- 30th in power play effectiveness: 12.1%
Comparison to Last Season
Last year, Marner scored 102 points with the Leafs, including a team-high 33 power play points, contributing to a power play success rate of 24.8%, ranked eighth in the NHL. Additionally, he was seventh in Selke Trophy voting as the league’s best defensive forward.
Maple Leafs' Attempts to Fill the Gap
Toronto has added forwards Nicolas Roy (acquired from Vegas), Matias Maccelli, and Dakota Joshua, and promoted Easton Cowan from the American Hockey League. Despite these moves, Zeisberger remarked on the difficulty of replacing Marner’s role in the top-six forward group.
“Myself personally, I’m not surprised.”
Zeisberger highlighted that Marner’s departure has left a significant hole in the team’s forward lineup.
Summary
The Toronto Maple Leafs face a challenging season as they work to compensate for the loss of Mitch Marner’s scoring and defensive contributions, despite efforts to bolster their roster.