Mitch Marner’s comments reveal how he hurt the Maple Leafs’ dressing room on his way out

Mitch Marner is now a member of the Golden Knights and some fans are still ajusting to the news. What should feel like a fresh start might not feel more like a messy breakup as many fans, insiders and pundits are reacting to something Marner himself admitted to during his introductory press conference in Vegas.

Marner revealed how his interest in Vegas began well before free agency. Citing his conversations with Mark Stone and Adin Hill during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, Marner spoke openly about his early attraction to the Golden Knights’ culture, both on and off the ice.

“Stoney, and Hill at 4 Nations was awesome; not just me but my wife loved the living situation. From my side of things it was trying to win at the 4 Nations and knew they were great hard-working guys and it was pretty eye opening for me.”

That revelation, while honest, doesn’t sit well with everyone.

Toronto fans, already frustrated by years of postseason disappointment, now have to contend with the idea that one of their stars may have mentally checked out while still in a Leafs’ uniform. Add to that the perception that Marner vetoed multiple trades while holding out for a perfect scenario in Vegas and we get why the Leafs’ organization and fanbase are pissed with this new information.

More concerning than fan reaction, however, is what it may have done to the Maple Leafs’ dressing room, during the months following the 4-nations tournament. It feels like Marner was already looking beyond Toronto while still sharing a bench with teammates chasing a Stanley Cup. I can’t imagine what the disconnect did to the chemistry…

It’s also no secret that Marner has occasionally deflected blame when under pressure. Fans knew Marner was always capable of more during the postseason, and playoff letdowns and perceived lack of accountability have become an unfortunate footnote in his Leafs legacy. And what he said in his shiny new Golden Knights uniform will have fans frustrated with his last month with the Leafs’ organization.

After all this, I’m not sure we can expect a warm ovation when Marner returns to Scotiabank Arena.