Ex-Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Mitch Marner comments on the busy off-season his former team had in the 2026 off-season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were one of the busiest teams in the off-season, and there's an argument to be made that they have been the busiest in the NHL this summer.
There has been plenty of change with the roster, management, and everything in between over the past couple of years. One of the most impactful changes to the franchise has been the departure of Mitch Marner in July 2025, after playing his first NHL season away from Toronto this past year with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Marner was a representative for the Golden Knights at the NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas and was asked about his former team. With the summer that the Maple Leafs had, the topic of their off-season came up.
With such a strong history with the Leafs, playing nine seasons with the club and 657 regular-season games, as well as growing up in the Greater Toronto Area, it's easy to follow what his former team has been up to.
"I obviously see all that stuff," Marner told TheHockeyNews.com's Michael Traikos.
Nonetheless, the right winger has his sights set on the coming campaign with his team, and doesn't hold much weight with what his former team is up to.
"Don't think very much," he said. "I'm just thinking about our team and what we've got to do to be the best we can be."
Marner, born in Markham, Ont. and growing up in Toronto, has become familiar with the local talent. Of that bunch is Toronto-born defenseman Darren Raddysh, whom the Maple Leafs acquired in a sign-and-trade in June.
Marner said he was pumped to see Raddysh get an opportunity for his hometown team after a career-high 22 goals and 70 points last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"I know Raddy quite well, I'm very happy for him," Marner said of Raddysh. "He's worked his butt."
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