Mitch Marner's former Maple Leafs teammates give their honest thoughts about him

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Will Bloggs
December 5, 2024 (12:02)

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Mitch Marner has long been an important player of the Toronto Maple Leafs' "Core Four," but his journey in one of the NHL's most demanding markets hasn't been without its challenges.

As seen on The Hockey News, despite offseason trade rumors following Toronto's playoff struggles, Mitch Marner's continues to shine with the Leafs and he is earning admiration from opponents and former teammates alike.

Nashville Predators Luke Schenn and Ryan O'Reilly shared high praise for Marner, addressing how much scrutiny he faced throughout his career.

Luke Schenn, who played alongside Marner in the past remarked his incredible talent :

«He's such a good player. He has so much confidence with the puck and just the poise and ability to make plays and pass through guys' sticks and triangles. He's kind of doing it all right now and it's not really surprising at all to me,» said Schenn.

«He's an unbelievable teammate, a great guy you'd want to have on your team, and he took some heat here at times, and to me it's unfair. He's been good since the day he got drafted here. I don't know what's not to like about him. He's been a huge part of things here in Toronto and they're lucky to have him,» he added.

Ryan O'Reilly echoed those sentiments and was praising Mitch Marner's unique vision.

He was reflecting on their time as teammates during the 2022-23 season which Ryan O'Reilly said :,

«He's slippery, that's for sure,» O'Reilly exclaimed. «He's one of those guys that's just so elusive out there and you think he's off balance and still in control, makes the play.»

Steven Stamkos also said there is intense pressure on Marner in Toronto compared to other markets.

«He's extremely skilled. Marner, I think he's one of the smartest players in the league,» Josi explained. "When he has the puck, he sees things that other players don't see and he always makes something out of nothing. As a defenseman, you always have to be aware. You never quite know what he's going to do. It's a challenge.»

Despite the criticism, Mitch Marner leads the Leafs in scoring with 36 points and has now an eight-game point streak.

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DECEMBRE 5 \| 221 ANSWERS Mitch Marner's former Maple Leafs teammates give their honest thoughts about him Do you think Mitch Marner is one of the best players in the NHL?
Yes	207	93.7 %
No	14	6.3 %
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