Mitch Marner Thrives with Golden Knights After Leaving Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner’s decision to leave the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Vegas Golden Knights is already yielding positive results for the star forward. After nine seasons in Toronto, and with a chance to become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Marner opted for a fresh start with the Golden Knights. This offseason move, executed through a sign-and-trade, has positioned Marner in a competitive team, while the Maple Leafs struggle in the current NHL season.

As of mid-November 2023, the Maple Leafs find themselves near the bottom of the league standings. In contrast, Marner’s new team is making waves in the Pacific Division, currently sitting in fourth place, just two points off the lead. This early season shift suggests that Marner’s choice has been advantageous, considering the Leafs have not performed to expectations thus far.

Marner’s performance in his new role has been promising. He is currently tied for 34th in NHL scoring, accumulating 20 points in 18 games, which includes four goals and 16 assists. While it is not yet a career year for Marner, he remains on track for his eighth consecutive season of averaging a point per game. His ability to produce is evident, as he has recorded more multi-point games (eight) than one-point games (three) or scoreless games (seven) this season.

Despite his solid start, Marner’s current points-per-game average of 1.11 is the lowest since his second year in the league. A contributing factor may be his adjustment to the Vegas power play, where he has logged over four minutes per game but has only managed four points. This is a stark contrast to his performance last season, where he tallied 33 power play points.

Interestingly, former teammates William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies are outscoring Marner early in the season, with 26, 24, and 22 points respectively. The Maple Leafs, despite Marner’s absence, have shown offensive strength, ranking fifth in goals scored across the league.

Marner’s Role with the Golden Knights

Marner’s role in Vegas resembles his time in Toronto in some respects. He averages 21:01 minutes on the ice per game, a continuation of his trend over the past four seasons. Although he is officially listed on the second line, his ice time surpasses that of all forwards except for Jack Eichel. Conventional wisdom might suggest that Marner would frequently pair with Eichel, given their potential chemistry and Marner’s status as one of the team’s highest-paid players, but this season, he has spent approximately 60% of his shifts away from Eichel.

Of Marner’s 16 assists, a notable 10 have been on goals scored by players such as Ivan Barbashev, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Kaedan Korczak, who, while not yet household names, have contributed significantly this season. Marner’s individual points percentage at even strength stands at 84.21%, indicating a strong likelihood of contributing to scoring plays when he is on the ice.

As he navigates the early stages of his new tenure, Marner’s adaptability will be crucial. With the majority of his eight-year contract still ahead, the implications of his decision to leave Toronto will continue to unfold. In the early weeks of this season, he appears to be thriving in his new environment, suggesting that both Marner and the Golden Knights may have benefited from this high-profile transition.