'Really Happy For Him': Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews And John Tavares Reflect On Mitch Marner's Playoff Success With Golden Knights

The Toronto Maple Leafs are visiting the Vegas Golden Knights for their first road game of the season on Tuesday. 

In the buildup to this matchup at morning skate, former Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner was mentioned to Auston Matthews and John Tavares, and they were asked about the Golden Knights' playoff campaign last year, specifically Marner's contribution.

Vegas advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup final but fell short in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes. In all that, Marner led the NHL in playoff scoring in that campaign with 29 points in 22 post-season games.

"Personally, as a friend, I was happy for him," Matthews said of Marner. "We still keep in touch. He's a great, great person. Great teammate and great friend. Personally, I was really happy for him. We stay in touch all the time, so it will be nice to see him tonight."

Marner was a member of the Maple Leafs for nine seasons and was teammates with Matthews for all those years, and linemates for a good chunk of his tenure in Toronto. He was also teammates with Tavares for seven years, beginning in 2018-19.

"Saw him a good amount over the summer, even though it was extremely short for him," Tavares said of Marner. "Obviously a good friend, amazing memories playing together, but we have to go out there and battle against him tonight."

He was impressed with Marner's performance in the playoffs, but based on what he's seen from the ex-Leaf firsthand, he wasn't really surprised by what he accomplished.

"I think he was just due," Tavares said. "He's just too good of a hockey player, impacts the game in so many different ways. He's a very unique, really special player, the way he thinks the game with and without the puck is as good as any player in the game."

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