2024 Hart Trophy winner Nathan Mackinnon defends Toronto Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner ahead of the season

PUBLICATION

Daniel Lucente
September 11, 2024  (10:38)

SHARE THIS STORY

Photo credit: USA Today Sports

Mitch Marner faces a ton of criticism in Toronto, but one of the league's stars, Nathan MacKinnon, disagrees with it all and fully backs the Leafs superstar.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner has taken a lot of heat this summer, but not everybody is buying into it. One NHL star, Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon, trained with Marner and Sidney Crosby during the offseason and was seriously impressed with Marner's performance.

Nathan MacKinnon, of course, took home the Hart Trophy last season after that monstrous 51-goal, 140-point run, and knows a thing or two about what it takes to win. And his Cup-winning experience is something Mitch Marner and the Leafs have been missing and have taken their fair share of criticism for, especially in a high-pressure market like Toronto. While praise from MacKinnon may not shut down all the doubters, one thing's for sure, Marner held his own against some of the league's top talent over the summer.

For many, last season's playoff performance against the Bruins did not go as anticipated for Mitch Marner. He had a goal and three points in the series while teammates Auston Matthews and William Nylander were battling health issues. The club called upon Marner to defend Boston's star forward David Pastrnak, but he was out of position when Pastrnak scored the overtime goal that knocked Toronto out after a bad bounce off the boards.

With the new season coming, Mitch Marner doesn't seem too fazed with his situation regarding the contract. It would now seem that getting in some solid reps against NHL elites has kept him sharp. As the Leafs go into a huge year, if Marner is in great form as one of the league's top playmakers when training camp opens, this would be a huge asset.

Source:
Leafslatest on X

Source: ESPN
Nathan MacKinnon Stats

Source: Hockey-Reference
Mitch Marner Stats

Warning: include(/home//inout/pub_inline.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/marqueur/public_html/news/auto/blogs_id/428067.php on line 37

Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home//inout/pub_inline.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php74/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/marqueur/public_html/news/auto/blogs_id/428067.php on line 37

Previously

Top NHL insider Darren Dreger reveals the latest update in Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins' negotiations

Worries growing over Auston Matthews' health after new photo leaks ahead of the season

Connor McDavid's future with Oilers becomes clearer: Leon Draisaitl purchases mansion right next door

POLL
SEPTEMBRE 11   |   195 ANSWERS 2024 Hart Trophy winner Nathan Mackinnon defends Toronto Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner ahead of the season Will Mitch Marner have a career-year with the Leafs this season?
Yes	86	44.1 %
No	109	55.9 %
LIST OF POLLS

MUST READ

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Vancouver Canucks' Contract Offer to Brock Boeser Leaks Publicly

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Montreal Canadiens Star Undergoes Season-Ending Knee Surgery

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Philadelphia Flyers Officially Looking to Trade Former 39-Goal Scorer

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Evander Kane May Be in His Final Days in Edmonton After Friedman Reveals New Information

Feb 28  |  By Mike Whitaker Maple Leafs Forward Pulls Back Trade Request

Feb 27  |  By Mike Whitaker Brad Marchand Goes Viral for Passionate Video Ahead of Four Nations Faceoff Final

Feb 27  |  By Mike Whitaker David Pastrnak's Latest Comments Suggest Bruins Will Be Big Sellers at the Deadline

Feb 27  |  By Julien Trekker 6-Foot-6 Winger Linked to the New York Rangers at the Trade Deadline

MORE STORIES