Even after his departure from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mitch Marner remains an incredibly polarizing figure in this market. During his tenure in Toronto, one of the biggest criticisms leveled against Marner from an off-ice perspective was his inability to handle the media. On multiple occasions, Marner seemed to put his foot in his mouth, often drawing the ire of the entire fanbase.
This week, Marner proved that his lack of media savvy was not exclusively an issue caused by the Toronto spotlight.
Marner Self-Nominates for ‘Highest Hockey IQ’
In a TikTok recently posted by the NHL, players were asked their opinion on which peers possessed the highest hockey IQ. While every other player used this as an opportunity to compliment a teammate or highlight the skill of a rival, Marner took the chance to toss some praise upon himself.
“There’s a lot. Barkov’s a good one. I’d like to throw myself in that opinion as well, a little bit.”
A History of ‘Me First’ Behavior
It has always been clear that Marner has a strong belief in his playmaking skills on the ice; however, this answer serves as yet another example of the ‘me first’ behavior he was accused of in Toronto. When an opportunity presented itself to acknowledge others, he felt the need to point the spotlight back at himself, a behavior almost everyone else understands is unbecoming. But apparently, not Marner.
He could be so beloved if he just never talked
— Eddie Shmenkman (@thefull60) November 25, 2025
Moving On Was Necessary for Toronto
For a player who frequently attempted to shine the light back at the media as being the “problem” in Toronto, it is odd that he would once again choose to put himself first.
Despite the Leafs’ struggles at points this season, it is becoming very clear why Marner was the core player the organization prioritized the least. Despite his undeniable on-ice abilities, Marner is a player who has seemingly always cared about the name on the back of the jersey more than the logo on the front.
Regardless of where Toronto finishes this season, it is clear to see that moving on from Marner and his ‘high IQ’ was the right decision for the team and the market.
