Mitch Marner Clarifies “Dark Times” Comment, Thanks Former Maple Leafs Teammates After Opening About Mental Health Issues

Mitch Marner joined the Vegas Golden Knights before the 2025-26 season after spending 9 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mitch Marner Clarifies “Dark Times” Comment, Thanks Former Maple Leafs Teammates After Opening About Mental Health Issues

Mitch Marner (Image via TSN)

On Tuesday, Mitch Marner spoke about the “dark times” comment. In the press conference after the Stanley Cup Final loss, the Vegas Golden Knights star opened up about mental health issues and thanked some of his former Toronto Maple Leafs teammates for their support during this phase.

Marner had been the talk of the town at this time last year. After his contract expired with the Maple Leafs, he agreed to a sign-and-trade deal and penned down a $96 million deal and was traded to the Golden Knights.

In his first season with the team, he reached the Stanley Cup Final. During his 9-year stay in Toronto, the right winger had never even reached the Conference Final.

After the Golden Knights swept the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 in the Western Conference Final, Marner’s celebrations would go viral. While speaking to the media later, he claimed that there were some “dark times” in his career.

Before the Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, he refused to elaborate on this comment and insisted that he would do so if the team wins the championship. This past Sunday, the Golden Knights lost the Final after the Canes recorded a 3-0 shutout in Game 6, winning the series 4-2.

In the media briefing after the end of the season, a reporter asked if there was something he wanted to elaborate on his comments or at least share how his teammates helped him through this dark phase.

In his reply, the Canadian international opened up about mental health issues and claimed that he had been struggling for the last 5 years. He then thanked some of his ex-teammates in Toronto for their help.

Mental health is a super important thing to me. It really is. I’ve been really trying to take care of my mental health probably for the last five years or so, and I’m really thankful that I had some unbelievable teammates around me in Toronto that I was able to talk to (and) express myself. … There was some really dark moments there. The thought of playing hockey was really tough, honestly, in a lot of ways.

Mitch Marner told the reporters

The Canadian international also spoke about the impact of social media. He admitted seeing a lot of comments regarding him in the past 2-3 years.

I think a lot of us, you know, are addicted to the social media aspect of things. You’re seeing a lot of comments, seeing a lot of things about yourself. I tried to check myself out of that in the last two or three years, really, just tried to get off of it, tried to get away from it.

Mitch Marner added

Marner had some troubles in his time with the Maple Leafs. Despite having him, Auston Matthews and William Nylander, the team struggled to make a huge impact in the playoffs. He won just 2 playoff series in 9 years with the team.

As a result of their failures, the players were subjected to severe criticism. After the Toronto-based side lost 3-1 in Game 4 of the first round against the Boston Bruins in 2024, ex-NHLer Paul Bissionnette blasted Marner and claimed that he was not playing any type of “good” hockey.

Last season, the Maple Leafs finally progressed past the first round. In the second round, they took a 2-0 lead against the Florida Panthers. After that, they suffered a huge collapse and lost the series 4-3. Marner ended his tenure with them while scoring 741 points (221 goals and 520 assists) in 657 regular-season games

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Despite Mitch Marner’s brilliance, Golden Knights suffer Stanley Cup Final defeat

After the Vegas Golden Knights crushed the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final, it seemed this was finally the year of Mitch Marner. The forward ended up with the most points in these playoffs. However, despite his brilliance, the team had to settle for a runner-up finish.

Mitch Marner
Mitch Marner (Image via CBC)

In Game 1 of the Final against the Hurricanes, he recorded his first point in the Stanley Cup Final through an assist. In the dying moments of the game, he made a huge block and stopped the puck, which was flying straight at the goal.

In Game 3, Marner scored a hat-trick. His 3 goals and 1 assist put the team 4-0 up. While the Canes pulled off a great comeback and tied the game at 4-4, the Golden Knights had the last laugh in this encounter and won 5-4 in 2OT.

After recording a point in Game 4, he failed to make a huge impact in Games 5 and 6. Marner finished the playoffs with 29 points (10 goals and 19 assists). This was the most by any player this postseason.

However, this was not enough to carry his team to the title. Losses in Games 4, 5, and 6 sealed a first title in 20 years for the Hurricanes while the Golden Knights were left heartbroken.

Canes’ captain Jordan Staal was later named the most valuable player (MVP) of the playoffs. Had the Golden Knights won, Marner could have gotten his hands on the Conn Smythe Award.

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