Maple Leafs Struggling to Replace Marner, Says Zeisberger
Mike Zeisberger, NHL.com staff writer, discussed the Toronto Maple Leafs' challenges in filling the void left by Mitch Marner on this week's episode of the NHL @TheRink podcast.
Marner's Departure and Impact
Mitch Marner left Toronto in the offseason via a sign-and-trade deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. In his first season on an eight-year, $96 million contract, he has recorded 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) in 12 games.
Team Performance Overview
- The Maple Leafs hold an 8-5-1 record after a 5-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth at Scotiabank Arena.
- They rank third in the league for goals per game (3.62).
- Defensively, they are ranked 28th in goals-against (3.62).
- The power play stands at 12.1%, placing them 30th in the league.
Marner's Contributions Last Season
In the previous season, Marner tallied 102 points (27 goals, 75 assists), including a team-leading 33 power-play points (6 goals, 27 assists). Toronto's power play finished at 24.8%, tied for eighth in the NHL. Marner was also seventh in the Selke Trophy voting as the NHL's top defensive forward.
Maple Leafs' Attempts to Compensate
To fill the gap, the team added forwards Nicolas Roy (acquired from Vegas), Matias Maccelli, and Dakota Joshua, while promoting Easton Cowan from the American Hockey League.
"Myself personally, I'm not surprised," said Zeisberger regarding the impact of Marner’s departure and the challenge in replacing him in the top-six forward group.
The Maple Leafs may need to explore the trade market to recover some of the production Marner provided over nine seasons.
Author's summary: The Maple Leafs face challenges filling the significant gap left by Mitch Marner’s departure, impacting their offense and power play despite strategic roster additions.