Former Leafs forward Mitch Marner makes Team Canada Olympic roster

"Marner, who the Leafs drafted in 2015, 4th overall, had nine productive seasons in Toronto, where, as part of the so- called 'core four', this elite playmaker produced 221 goals and 741 points in 657 games until last summer when he became a Golden Knight. Following last season, Marner, who was an unrestricted free agent, took the brunt of some heavy criticism on social media from fans and different Toronto media outlets for the team's disappointing early playoff exit against the Florida Panthers. For the past several years, Marner has taken a lot of blame for the team's playoff failures, and he decided it was time to move on."

"Marner agreed on a sign and trade scenario when, back on June 30th, he agreed and signed with the Leafs an eight-year $96 million-dollar contract before being sent to the Golden Knights in exchange for rugged forward Nicolas Roy. In terms of social media and the demands of playing in Toronto, Marner stated, "For all the negative comments out there, you know there's so many love comments. The problem is that the love comments don't come out as much as the hatred ones, and that's just the way life goes, and that's the way social media has turned in a way." According to Marner's agent Darren Ferris, some fans even threw things into his yard, and he even received death threats."

"Last February, Marner showed Leafs fans that he can deliver in the clutch as he produced a goal and three points in helping Canada win gold at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Marner's signature moment came during Canada's 3-2 OT Gold Medal win against the USA when, at the six-minute mark of the second period, he drew a key assist on the tying goal from Sam Bennett, which at the time made it a 2-2 game."

Mitch Marner was selected to play for Canada at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Marner spent nine seasons in Toronto after being drafted 4th overall in 2015, producing 221 goals and 741 points in 657 games as part of the Leafs' so‑called core four. He signed an eight-year, $96 million contract in a sign-and-trade that sent him to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Nicolas Roy. Marner endured heavy social media criticism and threats, while also delivering for Canada last February with a goal and three points in the 4 Nations Face-Off gold medal run.

Read at Editor In Leaf