Mitch Marner’s departure from the Toronto Maple Leafs marks the end of a hometown hero’s chapter, but former teammate William Nylander reveals the star winger stayed focused on team success until the very end.
“I actually asked him during the season and he said he was concentrating on Toronto,” Nylander told NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger. “I didn’t want to press him on that and let him be.”
For Marner, Toronto wasn’t just another NHL city. Born in Markham, he grew up playing for local teams like the Vaughan Kings and Don Mills Flyers before becoming a superstar with the London Knights.
The Leafs made every local kid’s dream come true when they picked him fourth overall in 2015.
What followed was an incredible run: 741 points in 657 games wearing the blue and white.
But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Fans sometimes questioned his effort, and there were occasional dustups with coaches and teammates. One particularly heated moment came during the 2025 playoffs when Marner and Nylander had words on the bench.
Nylander brushes that off now. “Things happen in big games,” he says. “It’s tough seeing him leave after nine years.”
The numbers tell the story of what Toronto’s losing. Marner put up an incredible 102 points in 81 games last season – his best year yet. He’d been knocking on the door of 100 points for three straight seasons, including a 99-point campaign in 2022-23.
Now he’s taking his talents to Vegas, where he’ll line up alongside Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. It’s a combo that could help Eichel finally crack that 100-point ceiling.
Back in Toronto, there’s a massive hole to fill on the top line. Nylander’s coming off his own career year with 45 goals and 84 points, following up a 40-goal, 98-point season before that.
But he’s not claiming Marner’s old spot just yet.
“I’ll play wherever they need me,” Nylander says. “I’m just focused on having another big year.”
The Leafs now face a tough puzzle: moving Nylander up means creating another gap to fill. After losing a hometown star who put up over 100 points, those aren’t easy shoes to fill.
