3 Reasons the Maple Leafs Might Be Better Without Mitch Marner

There’s no dodging the obvious: the Toronto Maple Leafs miss Mitch Marner. You don’t replace a 100-point player who touched every part of the game—offence, defence, power play—with a wave of the hand. For years, the puck lived on his stick. He drove play, set the tempo, and took on responsibility when things got heavy.

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Hockey rarely lets you avoid hard truths. Without Marner, the Maple Leafs spent the early part of the season looking a step behind, unsure of how to play without the safety net he provided. Last night’s Utah Mammoth 6-1 loss aside, there are hints now that they’re beginning to sort it out. Something that just might make them harder to beat.

Reason 1: The Maple Leafs Are a More Balanced Team

Without Marner, the team isn’t built around a single player. That’s forced everyone to find a balance. Guys like Easton Cowan, Bobby McMann, and Matthew Knies are touching the puck more—and in spots that actually matter. It’s less about one player, more about everyone doing their part.

This version of the Maple Leafs looks less dazzling, but also less predictable. Teams can’t just key in on one line anymore and wait for something to go wrong. The work is spread around now, and everyone has to be part of it.

Reason 2: The Maple Leafs Depend on Structure More Than Improvisation

Marner’s brilliance often allowed Toronto to cheat structure in favour of creativity. Sometimes that worked. Sometimes—especially in the playoffs—it didn’t. Without him, the Maple Leafs have been forced to simplify. Breakouts are cleaner. Gaps are tighter. Shifts are shorter and more disciplined.

The 10-game point streak showed the change in real time. Against strong teams, the Maple Leafs are playing with defensive discipline and appear comfortable protecting a lead instead of gambling to fix problems.

Reason 3. Without Marner, Opportunity Has Created Growth

When a star leaves, ice time opens up. So does accountability. The team asked players who once lived in the margins to deliver. Nick Robertson is probably the clearest example. He already caught last year’s point total, and he did it in a lot fewer games. You can see the confidence in how he’s playing.

The third line of Nicolas Roy, Robertson, and Cowan says a lot about where this team is heading. A calm veteran center anchoring two young players who are learning the NHL game the hard way. It’s not flashy, but it’s sustainable.

Marner Remains Marner, Just Not with the Maple Leafs

None of this erases what Mitch Marner was. He was elite, and his numbers will sit high on the franchise list for a long time. But winning hockey isn’t built on résumés. It’s built on chemistry, balance, and timing.

Are the Maple Leafs better without him? That’s still an open question. But they’re becoming a different team—one that might be more prepared for the postseason, if they get there, for the grind that actually decides seasons.

Related: What Trade Is the Maple Leafs Roster Crying Out For?