{"id":506744,"date":"2026-03-16T21:29:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T21:29:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/506744\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T21:29:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T21:29:34","slug":"toronto-maple-leafs-now-miss-96m-forward-per-chris-pronger-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/506744\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Maple Leafs now miss $96M forward, per Chris Pronger"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> continue to struggle during the 2025\u201326 NHL<\/a> season. Former defenseman Chris Pronger believes the team is feeling the loss of Mitch Marner<\/a> more than expected.<\/p>\n

Marner left Toronto last summer after a blockbuster sign-and-trade deal. The winger signed an eight-year, $96 million contract before being moved to the Vegas Golden Knights<\/a>. Thus ending Marner\u2019s nine-season run with the franchise.<\/p>\n

During a recent appearance on the \u201cMissin Curfew\u201d podcast, Pronger explained how important Marner was to the Maple Leafs\u2019 system. When asked if the winger made a major difference, Pronger gave a direct answer.<\/p>\n

MORE: Friedman rips broken \u2018spirit\u2019 Leafs for silence after Auston Matthews hit<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019re losing a hundred points,\u201d Pronger said. \u201cYeah. And he was kind of the catalyst in the power play. He drove a lot of offense drove through him. You know, do they miss him? Yes. He was a good fit. They built their roster around him and Auston [Matthews] and Willy [William Nylander].\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) celebrates his goal with center Auston Matthews (34) and right wing William Nylander at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Marner played a major role in Toronto\u2019s attack for several seasons. He ranks sixth on the Maple Leafs\u2019 all-time scoring lists with 741 points. <\/p>\n

Pronger also pointed to deeper issues beyond Marner\u2019s departure. He believes Toronto struggles because the team lacks strong defensive commitment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just think the style that they play, it\u2019s not \u2013 they\u2019re not committed defensively,\u201d Pronger said. \u201cI think it\u2019s a couple different things. They\u2019re not committed defensively; they make a lot of mistakes in their own zone, so they spend a lot of time in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE: Auston Matthews\u2019 agent slams NHL\u2019s \u2018reckless\u2019 decision after season-ending setback<\/a><\/p>\n

Pronger points to Maple Leafs\u2019 struggles<\/p>\n

The former Stanley Cup<\/a> champion also added that Toronto struggles to win loose pucks and quickly transition out of the defensive zone. Without strong defensive play, the team often stays pinned in its own end instead of pushing the pace offensively.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimilar to Vancouver, they don\u2019t get stops. They don\u2019t \u2013 they\u2019re not able to seal guys off quickly, get loose pucks, and then get transition and get going, because they don\u2019t defend well enough. They\u2019re not committed as a group to shut it down.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re just kind of there taking up space, hoping to go the other way and, you know, either circling or doing whatever. And the same thing goes for Edmonton<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toronto\u2019s current record reflects those concerns. The Maple Leafs sit at 29-27-12 with 70 points, and the team is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.<\/p>\n

Matthews leads the roster with 27 goals, but he is out for the season<\/a> due to injury. Forward Nylander holds the team scoring lead with 63 points. However, defensive problems continue to hurt Toronto\u2019s chances, with them allowing 3.44 goals per game.<\/p>\n

As the season moves forward, the absence of Marner\u2019s offensive production remains a major storyline.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead <\/a>\u2014<\/p>\n

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