When recently traded forward remarked that “…the whole city wanted me out of there,” it confirmed what many already suspected about Toronto — it’s one of the toughest places to play hockey.
Reaves’ departure came on the heels of Mitch Marner’s decision to leave his hometown team in free agency, opting instead for the tax-free spotlight of Las Vegas. While Marner faces a new set of expectations, the pressure in Vegas isn’t the same as in Toronto. Before him, Ryan O’Reilly left for Nashville, Luke Schenn moved on, and others have struggled with the relentless scrutiny in hockey’s most intense market. As Marner once put it, “You get treated like gods” when things go well — but when they don’t, it’s a very different story.
Reaves wasn’t exaggerating — he was simply being truthful. While many fans and even the organization were content to part ways with him and his bloated contract, his exit raises an important question: can the new additions handle the pressure?
Newcomers Face Extra Scrutiny Without Marner
The Maple Leafs are a different team now, with newcomers like Matias Maccelli, Nicolas Roy, and Henry Thrun stepping in. None of them have experienced anything quite like playing in Toronto, yet each will be looked to — rightly or not — to help fill the void left by Marner’s departure.
There’s now added pressure on Auston Matthews and William Nylander to deliver. Matthew Knies will be expected to take on a larger role. Even though John Tavares accepted a pay cut, he’ll be expected to make his presence felt. If they don’t all step up, criticism will quickly shift to the loss of Marner’s impact.
What was already a high-pressure environment just got more intense.
The big question now is whether GM Brad Treliving brought in players who can handle the microscope. Maccelli is coming off a down year. What if he doesn’t bounce back? Can Roy build on his 15-goal season and produce more?
This market can devour players, and if a hardened veteran like Reaves found it difficult, what does that say about how the newcomers will fare under heavier expectations? Marner is gone, and falling short in the playoffs again simply won’t be tolerated.
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