The Toronto Maple Leafs have taken time to adjust to Mitch Marner’s departure. The forward spent nine seasons with the team and departed as the fifth-highest scorer in franchise history with 741 points in 657 regular-season games.
Following multiple playoff failures and a falling out with the fanbase, which stemmed from online attacks on his family, Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on July 1.
Leafs forward William Nylander, during an exclusive interview with The Athletic on Tuesday, revealed that the Leafs have done their best to cope with Marner’s exit.
“I mean, obviously, we miss him. But that hasn’t changed anything for me, if that’s what you’re asking,” Nylander said. “In the beginning, it was weird because you know — but now you’re used to him not being here.”
Nylander has had to take on increased responsibility as the Leafs’ co-leader alongside captain Auston Matthews following Marner’s departure. The Swede, said he missed having Marner, whose stall was just beside his in the locker room, around.
“Obviously Mitchy did talk — talk like a lot. Other guys, as you know, talk too. I mean, it sucks to not have him, obviously,” added Nylander. “But we’re not focused on that. It’s just a little adjustment.”
William Nylander makes feelings known about the different feel to the Leafs’ core
The Leafs’ big four quartet of forwards – Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares – were seen as the best shot at ending the franchise’s championship drought. Things have changed though, with Marner gone and Tavares taking up a reduced role.
“For a long time it was the four of us,” Nylander said of the ‘Core Four’. “So that is a little bit different.”
The Leafs, looking to overhaul their roster after Marner’s trade, promoted forward Matthew Knies to a permanent first-line role beside Matthews. They also brought in Nicolas Roy, Mattias Macelli, and Dakota Joshua.
But the overall impact is yet to be seen. After 26 games, Toronto has a 12-11-3 record and sits sixth in the Atlantic Division with 27 points.
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Edited by R. Nikhil Parshy