Mitch Marner's Stanley Cup Final run shows Maple Leafs fans what could have been

Vegas swept Colorado in the Western Conference Final, and Mitch Marner played a central role in the run. He leads all playoff scorers with 21 points in 15 games and has looked comfortable and relaxed throughout the postseason. His impact includes both offense and defense, with Vegas trusting him in every situation. For Toronto, the situation is frustrating because a sign-and-trade last summer brought Nicolas Roy in to change the roster’s direction after another disappointing playoff exit. That plan did not deliver the intended results, and Roy was later traded to Colorado. Marner’s immediate rise in Vegas raises questions about what changed and why Toronto could not achieve similar playoff performance.

"Mitch Marner is heading to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season away from Toronto, and he's been right in the middle of everything for Vegas during this run. He now leads all playoff scorers with 21 points in 15 games, but honestly, it's more than just the numbers. He looks comfortable. Relaxed even. That's something people probably didn't say enough during his years with the Maple Leafs, especially once the playoffs rolled around and every mistake turned into a week-long conversation."

"He was strong again in the 2-1 win that finished off Colorado, and throughout this playoff run, he's looked like a player completely comfortable in the moment. The offence has obviously been there, but so has the defensive side of his game. Vegas has trusted him in every situation. From Toronto's side, that's where this becomes a little frustrating to watch."

"The sign-and-trade last summer that brought Nicolas Roy to the Maple Leafs was supposed to change the direction of the roster after another disappointing playoff exit. The organization wanted a different look and a different feel to the group, and after that failed. They decided to move on from Roy and trade him to the Avalanche at this year's trade deadline. Instead, Marner leaves and immediately reaches another level somewhere else."

"That's going to leave some lingering questions around the Leafs for a while, especially if Vegas finishes the job. Because when a player this talented suddenly looks freer the second he leaves Toro"

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