Why Mitch Marner says his mental health suffered before fresh start in Vegas

Ex-Maple Leafs winger said he was worried about his well being before moving to the Golden Knights and this year's long playoff ride.

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Published Jun 16, 2026  •  Last updated 2 hours ago  •  3 minute read

Mitch Marner of the Vegas Golden Knights is named the second star after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. Getty Images

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From the player once perceived to having the most fun of the young gun Maple Leafs, Mitch Marner elaborated a bit on how the days turned “dark” for him. 

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During the Vegas Golden Knights end-of-year availability, two days after losing the Stanley Cup final to Carolina, the playoffs’ leading scorer reflected on how he’d become concerned for his own mental health as his nine-year Toronto tenure ended, thanking family, friends and Leafs teammates for helping deal with it.   

“There were really dark moments there that the thought of playing hockey was really tough in a lot of ways, a dark hole in a way,” Marner said Tuesday. “Mental health is a super important thing for me, it really is. I’ve been really trying to take care of it the last five years or so.” 

Was Marner dealing with troubles in Toronto?

Marner was among the most popular of the Leafs’ Core Four, but  constant playoff failures often came back to bite the same quartet of himself, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares. They were fair game for criticism, though Marner’s lack of production in big games often stood out most and he took those barbs the hardest. 

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It became worse when his contract was ending last year and he blocked a deal to Carolina that would’ve helped the club, before going to Vegas in a sign-and-trade. That created a social media storm that did go over the top. 

“A lot of us are addicted to social media,” Marner said. “You see a lot of comments about yourself. I tried to check out of that the last few years, get off it, get away from it. That’s helped in a lot of ways.  

“But you have to be able to talk about it, too. You should never be afraid to talk about your fears and emotions. People want you around, want you in their life. 

“I’m really thankful that I had unbelievable teammates in Toronto I was able to talk to, express myself, who knew what I was going through. It made me better.” 

Marner, a new father, has also brought up his wife, his parents and other family members. 

“It’s realy important to check in in on the people around you. Mental health in this day and age is something that gets talked about, but still overlooked in a lot of ways.” 

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How did a playing for a new team clear his mind?

He said the shift to Vegas, a team where the pressure came off him to a degree on a second line in a smaller hockey media market, was of enormous benefit, as was the general change of scenery. 

“When you’re in that mental blender, you put a lot of stress on your body and mind, up at night worried about how you can change things. Being in a new environment maybe helped release that a bit. We have a tight-knit group here, it was pretty special.” 

Marner was in the Conn Smythe Trophy conversation for his post-season points’ performance, including a Game 3 hat trick, but he and the Knights lost three straight where he had only an assist. Counting the Olympics, despite Canada’s loss to the U.S., it was a year of growth. 

“You always believe in yourself that you can do spectacular things. (But) in our sport, you can’t do anything by yourself, you need five people. Our line had great chemistry. We have a special team in here.” 

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Marner will soon be playing for his fifth coach in the past few years, Sheldon Keefe giving way to Craig Berube in Toronto, Bruce Cassidy switched for John Tortorella late in the regular season, with the news Tuesday Tortorella is not returning in 2026-27. 

“Obviously, the losing part sucks,” Marmer said of aflling two wins short of the Cup. “That’s going to stick with us all a long time, if not life”.  

What made a great impression on him in this longest playoff run was watching many Vegas players get treated or taped up to stay in the lineup four rounds. 

For now, Marner wants to “take some time to relax your body and mind. There was a lot going on, Olympics as well. (Time to) be a dad and enjoy family.” 

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