The Maple Leafs were the centre of much criticism when Mitch Marner left for Vegas in the 2025 off-season, with many skeptics wondering if the team has actually gotten worse in his absence. So far, with back-to-back losses against the Red Wings, a losing record through their first three games of the season and Matthew Knies calling out his team for not playing a full 60 minutes, it's been a rocky road for the Leafs in the beginning of the post-Marner era. Is this just a momentary lapse or are the Leafs doomed to have a harder time without Marner and perhaps even miss the playoffs?