Brad Treliving faces backlash after press conference’s biggest oversight

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving held a media session earlier this week, but conspicuously never mentioned Mitch Marner, the team’s former superstar forward whose departure continues to ripple through the roster.

It’s not about re-litigating the past, but Marner’s absence is impossible to ignore when evaluating the Leafs’ rocky start. And Elliotte Friedman made sure to point out the mistake by Treliving in his latest 32 Thoughts column on Sportsnet:

“They are still adjusting, and if the first six weeks taught us anything, it’s that this may take much longer than everyone hoped.

“Toronto’s been looking for a top-six forward since the summer, but if that was an easy solve, it would be done already. Before our Nov. 8 broadcast, head coach Craig Berube shared some thoughtful observations regarding the fact he’d used 20 forward lines by that date, tied with Edmonton for most in the NHL. Injuries, which everyone is dealing with, are obvious.”

I mean Marner going to the Vegas Golden Knights has been a huge loss as he was doing it all, from driving offense and feeding Auston Matthews to defending leads and being a leader in the dressing room.

Adjusting to life without him is proving more challenging than many anticipated.

Since the summer, Toronto has been searching for a top-six forward to fill the void—but if a solution were simple, it likely would have been found by now. The gap Marner left cannot be ignored, and should have been tackled when Treliving met with reporters to fess up to a rough start to the 2025-26 season, with injuries and losses piling up, and expectations falling short.

Head coach Craig Berube highlighted the struggle in early November, noting he had already cycled through 20 forward lines by Nov. 8, tied for the most in the NHL alongside Edmonton. While injuries have certainly compounded the problem, it is a challenge all teams face and it just gets the spotlight away from what is the real issue that needs fixing. Recalibrating the Leafs’ lineup and identity without one of their most impactful players.

Treliving’s omission of Marner during his press conference may have been intentional, but the reality is clear: the team’s current difficulties are directly connected to the loss of their former star. Until Toronto finds the right mix of talent, depth, and chemistry, the void left by Marner will continue to shape both on-ice results and the locker room dynamic.