Ex-NHLer Claims Marner Leaving Toronto Will Be the Key to the Maple Leafs' Success
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski Imagn Images
Former NHLer and current NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp shared why Mitch Marner leaving the Maple Leafs could be the key to long-desired playoff success for the team.
Spreading Mitch Marner's cap space throughout the lineup was the plan for Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving after he traded the 28-year-old winger to the Vegas Golden Knights on July 1st.
Although he is still searching for a top-six forward, Treliving has done an admirable job in adding more depth throughout the lineup, giving head coach Craig Berube far more options when it comes to line combinations.
Mike Rupp of the NHL Network Believes the Loss of Mitch Marner is the Key to Playoff Success for the Maple Leafs
A fantastic regular season player, Marner's playoff struggles are dully noted, but as former NHLer and current NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp shared on the NHL Network on Tuesday that the Leafs may be better positioned for a deeper playoff run without the former first-round pick for one specific reason.
"You're a better team with Mitch Marner. I'm not saying the Toronto Maple Leafs are better without him, but the team structure and the team dynamic might be better to win come playoff time."
As many others have noted, Marner does make the Leafs a better team during the regular season. However, as Rupp explained, the dynamic will be vastly different next spring, and the Leafs will have to rely more on their depth players.
Rupp also pointed to the Florida Panthers the year they won the President's Trophy and the fact that they were not happy with their depth and acquired Matthew Tkachuk from the Calgary Flames that off-season.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 30 | 759 ANSWERS Ex-NHLer Claims Marner Leaving Toronto Will Be the Key to the Maple Leafs' Success Will Mitch Marner's absence lead to a deeper playoff run for the Leafs? | ||
| No | 267 | 35.2 % |
| Yes | 492 | 64.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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