‘He Took Some Heat Here At Times, It’s Unfair’: Ex-Maple Leafs Luke Schenn and Ryan O’Reilly Among Current Predators To Praise Star Winger Mitch Marner
Star winger Mitch Marner has been a cornerstone piece in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ ‘Core Four’ era, since the fall of 2016. But playing in one of hockey’s most scrutinized markets hasn’t always been easy for the player, with trade talks even reaching the surface this past summer after another postseason letdown.
Two players who are familiar with the Toronto market are current Nashville Predators Luke Schenn and Ryan O’Reilly, who were in town for a Wednesday night matchup with the Maple Leafs. Pre-game, the two were among a handful of Predators to reflect on Marner’s brilliance and address the criticism he has faced during his nine-year career in Toronto.
“He’s such a good player. He has so much confidence with the puck and just the poise and ability to make plays and pass through guys’ sticks and triangles. He’s kind of doing it all right now and it’s not really surprising at all to me,” said Schenn.
“He’s an unbelievable teammate, a great guy you’d want to have on your team, and he took some heat here at times, and to me it’s unfair. He’s been good since the day he got drafted here. I don’t know what’s not to like about him. He’s been a huge part of things here in Toronto and they’re lucky to have him,” he added.
O’Reilly, who briefly played alongside Marner during the 2022-23 season, felt the same as Schenn's sentiments.
“He’s slippery, that’s for sure,” O’Reilly exclaimed. “He’s one of those guys that’s just so elusive out there and you think he’s off balance and still in control, makes the play.”
This wasn’t the first time O’Reilly defended Marner, either. In the summer, the 33-year-old reportedly urged the Predators to attempt a trade to land the star winger, mentioning how “getting to play with him in the short time I did, it was just so fun. You see the way he sees the game, at such a unique level.”
Now-Predators forward Steven Stamkos, who has had his fair share of run-ins with Marner over the years since he entered the league in 2016, has seen a handful of special plays from the former fourth-overall pick. Most recently, he has battled against him in a pair of playoff series when the forward was with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
As a high draft pick himself, first overall to be precise (though not as critical of a market), Stamkos understands the difference in market and the intense pressure that comes with being a franchise player in a city like Toronto – where he grew up.
“He’s such a dangerous two-way player. He’s great on the penalty kill, he’s so smart, he’s elusive. His edge work is great,” said Stamkos. “We all talk about it as players, you play against these guys, you have an appreciation for how good they are. Because of the market that they’re in, they get a lot of attention. Some negative and a lot probably unwarranted, but that’s the way it is in this market.”
“As players, I think if you polled the league, they know how good of a player he is and how important he is to that team (the Leafs),” he added.
Predators captain, Roman Josi, had high praise for the forward, who’s found success against Nashville – scoring six goals, 11 assists, and 17 points in 14 games against the organization.
“He’s extremely skilled. Marner, I think he’s one of the smartest players in the league,” Josi explained. "When he has the puck, he sees things that other players don’t see and he always makes something out of nothing. As a defenseman, you always have to be aware. You never quite know what he’s going to do. It’s a challenge.”
While Marner continues to face the pressures and criticisms that come with being a star in Toronto, it’s clear that those who’ve played with and against him hold him in the highest regard. On Wednesday, he recorded his 14th multi-point game of the season, the most in the NHL after registering three assists.
The forward also has 29 points in his last 17 games and leads the team in scoring with 36 points (9G, 27A) while riding an eight-game point streak that has seen him score five goals and 11 assists for 16 points.
