The departure of Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs has sent ripples through the hockey world, but the real drama may be just beginning. As Marner settles into his new life with the Vegas Golden Knights, reports and subtle social media signals are revealing a more complicated story behind the scenes in Toronto. While fans and analysts focus on how the Leafs will replace Marner’s on-ice production, it’s becoming clear that his exit has also exposed lingering tensions within the locker room.

Despite Marner’s heartfelt farewell to the city and its supporters, his former teammates’ reactions—or lack thereof—have raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about the true nature of their relationships. The absence of public support from several star players hints at deeper issues that may have been brewing beneath the surface for years. As whispers about Marner’s attitude and role in the dressing room continue to circulate, questions remain about how his presence really affected the team dynamic. With new details emerging, the story of Marner’s time in Toronto is far from over, and the impact of his departure could be felt long after the dust settles.

Vegas Golden Knights' Mitch Marner in a press conference.

Photo credit: Screenshot

Toronto Maple Leafs superstars made their true feelings known about Mitch Marner’s departure from the organization.

While the Leafs are still trying to figure out how to fill the massive hole left in their lineup by Mitch Marner’s departure from Toronto, some players made a gesture that indicated it wasn’t all sunshine and handshakes between them and Marner in the locker room.

But even as Marner starts a new chapter in Vegas, enjoying a much calmer market, it turns out his former teammates aren’t exactly sending him postcards. In fact, some of them seem downright irritated by how it all went down.

Marner made sure to thank the city, the fans, and everyone tied to the Leafs during his nine-year run, and while his old buddies first showed support, it didn’t last.

Indeed, the post paying tribute to Marner’s time in Toronto was unliked by many former teammates such as William Nylander and Max Domi, and only Auston Matthews shared the post on Instagram: Matthew Knies, John Tavares, and Nylander didn’t.

Petty? Maybe. But also pretty telling. It paints a clear picture that not everyone in that room was sad to see him go.

Add in Marner’s own words during his Vegas introduction, where he practically admitted he’d mentally checked out months ago, and it starts to feel like Toronto quietly dodged a bullet. The whispers about his attitude and habit of making everything about himself? They’re not exactly disappearing.

So while some might write it all off as social media nonsense, it speaks volumes. Loyalty and passion still mean something in hockey. And in the end, the Leafs might be just fine without him.

More details about Marner’s locker room relationships in Toronto could come out in the coming months. Stay tuned for more.