Marner’s Vegas reinvention: From Toronto heat to a Western Conference final run

Mitch Marner, who signed with the Vegas Golden Knights after being drafted fourth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015, has been a standout performer in the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. He is leading Vegas into the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche, with the series opening on Wednesday night. Marner's strong postseason play represents a vindication of sorts after facing criticism during his time in Toronto.