Some people think that Mitch Marner would hate a lineup change. However, it could benefit him in more ways than one.
Vegas Golden Knights v San Jose Sharks | Thearon W. Henderson/GettyImages
Toronto Maple Leafs fans can’t stop talking about how toxic Mitch Marner was during his Toronto tenure. The Vegas Golden Knights winger has been accused of being emotionally distant from his boyhood club and being Charmin soft, among worse things. Heck, he’s been called every nasty name in the book.
That’s how we treat our little thespian now. Taylor Swift had better write a breakup song to roast the Toronto media. This screams “bitter divorce.”
Still, one of those accusations flying around Marner was how his crazy father would raise hell at Bruce Cassidy. The reason? His son was bumped from the first line. As if the accusations of not getting fair media coverage weren’t enough.
Mitch Marner the player whose Dad and camp complained multiple times he wasn’t treated as a big enough star in Toronto is happy no one cares about him enough for him to talk to media.
Holy smokes Mitch https://t.co/eSwOiKp3kg
— Banksy (@Banx_Leaf) October 10, 2025
But these alleged “problems” don’t faze Bruce Cassidy one bit. Remember when news broke of Mark Stone reuniting with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev on the top line on Saturday? Well, Marner was bumped down to the same line as Pavel Dorofeyev and Tomas Hertl.
As mentioned, fans shouldn’t look too much into the line change for a few reasons. First, this is Cassidy’s team and he runs the show. Second, it’s a “golden” (waka waka) opportunity for Marner to flourish if he’s staying with his new linemates.
Dissecting why Mitch Marner being on a potential line with Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev makes perfect sense
I’ve advocated for the longest time possible about how Pavel Dorofeyev deserves some reward for his excellent play. Last season, the 24-year-old led the Golden Knights in scoring goals (35) and is already picking up where he left off. He already has five goals (NHL-best entering Monday) and just earned First-Star honors for the week ending on October 12.
But imagine Dorofeyev and Marner playing alongside each other. They’d complement each other well in transition, creating ridiculous scoring opportunities in odd-man rushes or breakaways. The Russian winger needs a facilitator like Marner to create offensive chaos. That could pay dividends for both players, specifically since the former “Core Four” member needs a jump start.
But what about Hertl, you ask? Well, the Czech native is still a quick skater despite the rumors. He can also thrive on the rush with Marner, causing trouble for opposing teams.
Not only that, but the Markham native should thrive with Hertl setting up in his usual spot in the slot. The 31-year-old gives Vegas a distinct advantage with his size, obstructing the view of opposing goaltenders without any problem. That could play into an unprecedented advantage for Vegas, specifically with the Golden Knights needing that spark.
Marner has the chance to prove that the speculation about him being difficult is merely overblown
Maple Leafs fans haven’t let up on their former superstar after he left his hometown for Sin City. They’ve subjected him to all sorts of threats and name-calling, leaving him to embrace his new home.
A potential lineup shake-up will test his commitment to Vegas. However, it’s the perfect opportunity to play with the team’s leading shots producer from last season (253) and one of the team’s best goal-scorers (32 goals last season).
It could also reignite a top-heavy lineup with only three players carrying the load. Dorofeyev, Jack Eichel (two goals and five assists), and Mark Stone (five assists) have done the heavy lifting for the Golden Knights, raising concerns about Vegas’s overall attack.
What better way to quash those concerns than to thrive under these circumstances? If Cassidy commits to these changes, it could be fruitful for the Golden Knights by unleashing Marner. Now that would be a scary sight for the 31 other NHL teams. All of this is happening before Halloween, too.
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