Mitch Marner leaving Toronto was the best thing that ever happened to the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Toronto ended up in the basement but now they have a chance to draft Gavin McKenna and Mitch Marner leaving town was the catalyst that set things in motion.
As the NHL Draft Lottery kicked off, Maple Leafs fans gathered around the TV to see if there was any possible chance that the hockey gods would bless them with not even the first overall pick; just the top-five.
Well, defying the odds they ended up winning the draft and getting the first overall pick. It was a stunning turn of events that set the hockey world ablaze, and now begins the debate between whether it's Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg.
Most likely though it's going to be McKenna and the chance to add a generational talent to Auston Matthews' line is nothing short of incredible and all but assuredly will keep the captain in town (though if not they have a heck of a consolation prize).
Marner leaving forced the tank and the tank gave the Maple Leafs the lottery ball that just changed everything
But none of this would have happened had Toronto not completely collapsed this season, barely making it into the bottom-five and giving themselves some chance to succeed.
And a lot of that has to do with the fact Mitch Marner is far, far away.
Say what you want about him, but Marner absolutely made the Maple Leafs better and his elite two-way ability was crucial in helping Toronto get into the playoffs last year in such dominant fashion.
Without him though, the cracks that were already there just widened and while he's succeeding in Vegas, the rest of his old teammates were trying to figure out how to salvage each game without looking like a AAA team.
Toronto ended up trading Marner for Nic Roy, who was then traded later on for a 2027 first-round pick. But Marner also had a huge hand in handicapping the team so badly with him leaving he also handed them McKenna.
Marner turned into Roy then a 2027 first and eventually Gavin McKenna. For a guy who isn't even close to helping Toronto directly — he did a fine job indirectly.
Nine years with Marner produced two playoff series wins and one season without him produced a generational prospect
It doesn't excuse the fact he only one two playoff series in a decade, but the fact that he was able to give the Maple Leafs essentially a replacement for him, it's not too shabby.
But it goes to show that while losing certain players will lead to some short-term pain, there's a good chance that could turn around in a flash just like it did on Tuesday. Marner may enjoy so much postseason success in Vegas and completely overshadow his past failures; and he won't be remembered for it.
The thing people will focus on is the fact that now Toronto has the chance to build around a generational talent who could not only elevate the entire team, but be someone who they can build around for the next 20 years.
That decade of misery with Marner led to a lot of criticism, frustration, backlash and tension. No one can deny that, and both parties are better off doing their own thing.
But you have to tip your cap to Mitch Marner — he walked away so that Gavin McKenna could fly in and for that we need to be grateful at the very least.
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