It’s time to move on from the Mitch Marner discourse, at least until January 23

Threats against Marner’s security were always unacceptable measures, to be absolutely clear. The criticisms of Marner’s game and his outright refusal to take accountability for routinely sub-par playoff performances are what comes with the territory of starring for the Maple Leafs, but a line was crossed. We’re placing this obvious caveat here, because while what Marner allegedly encountered was unacceptable, he also should’ve realized that there wasn’t going to be a lot of sympathy, either. You can’t leave your boyhood club hanging, while searching for every possible dollar on the open market and refuse to negotiate in good faith, then submit two of the worst games of your career in the second round, force a trade to a leading Stanley Cup contender, and then expect people to take pity on you.

And to be clear, this isn’t meant to patronize passionate Leafs fans either. You’re welcome to feel how you’d like about Marner, especially after the 2024-25 season played out. It may just be in everyone’s best interest to move on, until January 23, when the Golden Knights come to town. This is still a very good Leafs team, led by Auston Matthews and William Nylander, with Matthew Knies emerging as one of the NHL’s ascending power forwards, while it may be a lot easier to grasp Craig Berube’s system and concepts in Year Two. John Tavares is living proof of a Toronto-born star who wanted to be part of the group forever and understood that round-the-clock coverage is part of the deal that comes with wearing the Blue-and-White. Expending all this energy on a departed 102-point winger, who could’ve been God here, and chose not to be, may end up making things needlessly painful, entering a new season.

We’re a month away from a new season, and a new Leafs team, that doesn’t feature Mitch Marner for the first time in a decade. Toronto retooled cleverly during the offseason, and while it may be a few points worse during the regular season, it is perhaps better positioned to play the style of game needed to sustain a lengthy playoff run. Mitch Marner is no longer a member of the Maple Leafs and for all of our sakes, it’s time to free ourselves of the discourse. Until Marner returns in January, of course, where he will receive the verbal wrath of a fan base scorned.