It’s been a while since Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs parted ways. While many thought Marner would become a free agent before picking his team, the Leafs and Golden Knights sealed the deal just ahead of the free agency window opening. “When I was drafted, all I wanted was to help bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto,” the former Leafs superstar said while leaving the team.

A cornerstone of the core four era, Maner hit a career high of 102 points during this past regular season. However, Marner’s and the team’s repeated poor playoff performances had disillusioned both parties. The Leafs may have found it hard to justify hiking Marner’s nearly $10.9 million AAV contract with an extension. That showed in just how many players they have now signed.

McCluskey broke down the Maple Leafs’ spending spree while hunting for depth during free agency.

“You wanted it, you got it. No more speculation. We now know exactly what it looks like to replace Marner’s cap hit with depth: Matias Maccelli: $3.425m, Dakota Joshua: $3.250m, Nicolas Roy: $3.00m, Michael Pezzetta: $812,500 = $10,487,500,” posted McCluskey. And how much did they pay Mitch Marner last season?

“$10,893,000. There’s room for another $2m player to match his cap hit this year. How’s everyone feeling?” the Toronto man asked Maple Leafs fans. The fan base’s responses showed divided opinion and became a testament to just how much Leafs fans supported Mitch Marner. “I’d rather have Marner,” commented one fan.

Despite the Toronto Maple Leafs securing not one but four players from the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Utah, and the team Marner switched to, the Vegas Golden Knights, that fan would exchange all three for Mitch Marner despite the cost. Was it because Marner continued to improve across the regular season and went past 100 points? Well, that was certainly one of the points.

Fans debate Mitch Marner’s value to the Maple Leafs

The points debate took over the comments section. “The first 3 are getting way over 100 points,” wrote one fan. Matias Maccelli (Utah), Dakota Joshua (Canucks), and Nicolas Roy (Vegas) were the “first” three the fan talked about. Yet, many fans were hard-pressed to take that statement at face value because of the trio’s stats from last season.

Maccelli played 55 games last season and scored 18 points, while Joshua scored only 14 after 57 games. Although Roy did better with 31 points, he also played the most games of the three at 71. However, the fan believed that with playoff contenders like the Maple Leafs, Maccelli could go beyond 60 points next season. Not everyone was convinced, though.

One fan gave a grim prediction. “Maccelli on pace for 27 points, Joshua on pace for 20, Roy on pace for 36, Pezzeta on pace for 0. Nice, a combined 83 between 4 guys to replace Marner,” one NHL fan predicted their points tally. The fan believed that none of the players, even combining forces, could replicate Mitch Marner’s previous season with the Leafs.

Others were convinced that these newcomers would create a much-needed balance. “Keep in mind, if the Leafs would have re-signed Marner, we would have paid 13.5m come playoff time. I’d take just Roy & Joshua over Marner any day. Add in Maccelli & Pezzetta = lower AAV and more balanced team,” commented the X user.

After all, the Toronto Maple Leafs trusted their core four (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares) to deliver for years, but every time they were woefully short of even making the Stanley Cup finals. Meanwhile, others thought that without Mitch Marner, the team wouldn’t even make it that far. “Feeling like the Leafs won’t make the playoffs,” wrote a user.

The counterargument came from another hockey fan. “Feeling fantastic. Finally able to build a better third line with size. Changes are not all done,” commented the fan, saying that four experienced players would give the Leafs the depth to try out different strategies when Plan A fails during a game. Yet what do you think of Mitch Marner’s departure and the new talent? Write your opinion in the comments.