- Mitch Marner opened up on “dark times” in hockey after Vegas swept Colorado to reach the Stanley Cup Final
- The 28-year-old leads all 2026 playoff scorers with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 16 games
- Read below for the video of Marner’s emotional postgame and what comes next for Vegas
Mitch Marner finally got the moment.
Hours after the Golden Knights wrapped up a four-game sweep of the Avalanche on Tuesday and punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final, Marner stood at the podium visibly emotional and pointed back to “dark times” in his career. Nine seasons in Toronto came with plenty of noise. Tuesday night in Las Vegas brought something different.
Marner talked about the moment when the realization hit that he was finally going to the Final.
“It was a special moment,” Marner said. “There’s been some dark times in hockey for myself, but I’m honestly thankful for my family, my brother, my mom and dad, my wife, my son, all my friends around me. So, yeah, that was the moment I just expressed some joy and some fun there.”
Watch the full postgame from Marner and his teammates:
The 28-year-old joined Vegas last July in a sign-and-trade after spending his entire NHL career with the Maple Leafs. The fit has been seamless. Marner owns 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 16 games this postseason, the most of any skater still standing.
His previous postseason best came in 2022-23, when he piled up 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 11 games as a Maple Leaf. He’s already blown past that.
Marner explained what makes the Vegas locker room feel different than what he knew before.
“Guys just come to the rink excited every day to go to work,” Marner said. “They want to make each other better, and we just have so much trust in whoever is going over the boards.”
Vegas now waits on the Carolina-Montreal winner in the East. The sweep bought Marner a week to recharge before the biggest stage of his career.
He’s never gotten this far before. After nine seasons of hearing it all up north, the kid from Markham finally plays for the only trophy he’s ever wanted.
