Mitch Marner (Getty Images) The Toronto Maple Leafs’ breakup with Mitch Marner has been one of the most polarizing NHL storylines of the summer. After years of speculation about his long-term fit, the star winger was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights in a blockbuster move. But according to insider Elliotte Friedman, Marner’s exit wasn’t inevitable — it might have been avoided entirely if the Leafs had managed to edge out the Florida Panthers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Elliotte Friedman suggests beating Florida would have rewritten Mitch Marner’s future in Toronto
On his 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman floated an intriguing counterfactual: “There are other players who feel that when Marner didn’t sign last summer that the writing was on the wall. My position is this: If they beat Florida in the second round – which they should have done – I don’t see how Mitch Marner isn’t in Toronto.”
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The idea highlights just how thin the margins are in playoff hockey. A Game 7 win against the Panthers wouldn’t just have sent Toronto deeper into the postseason, it might also have altered the front office’s perspective on keeping their core intact. Friedman even doubled down, saying, “I could be totally wrong… but I just don’t see a way if they beat Florida that Mitch Marner doesn’t find a way to re-sign in Toronto.”
William Nylander’s comments show Mitch Marner’s heart was still in Toronto
Adding fuel to Friedman’s theory are William Nylander’s recent remarks. He revealed, “I don’t think he was ever thinking of leaving ahead of time… his play was focused on helping us. Then I asked him after the season, and he wasn’t sure.”Also Read: NHL Trade Rumors: Rangers risk losing their Stanley Cup window as key stars face uncertain futureTogether, the remarks suggest Toronto’s playoff collapse didn’t just end a season — it accelerated a breakup. In the NHL, one series loss can reshape an entire era.