Marner treated unfairly while with Maple Leafs, Eichel says - ESPN

RALEIGH, N.C. — Vegas Golden Knights star Jack Eichel said that his teammate Mitch Marner was treated unfairly during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

«As a teammate and a friend of his, and somebody that cares about him and his family, of course I do,» Eichel said at Stanley Cup Final media day Monday. «I think the world of Mitch. Anybody that has negative or bad things to say about him, obviously I disagree with, because I think highly of him.»

Marner is the leading scorer in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (21 points in 16 games) and a driving force behind the Golden Knights' third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history. His performance stands in stark contrast with his reputation during nine seasons in Toronto, where his postseason struggles made him a symbol of the Maple Leafs' playoff failures.

Marner said hearing constant criticism in Toronto became «a real mental grind» and affected him physically. He was traded ahead of unrestricted free agency last summer to Vegas, where he's in the first year of an eight-year contract. Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon said his team has given Marner a chance to thrive.

«I think our team is deeper and a better team than what he had played on in Toronto. Not that Toronto didn't have real good teams. But you have to have that depth throughout your roster, because everyone's going to take their turn,» McCrimmon said Monday. «Mitch is playing with tremendous confidence. He's really savoring the moment.»

During the playoffs, Marner has tried to avoid going in-depth about his time in Toronto and how it contrasts with his experience in Vegas. But there have been a few cracks in the veneer recently. He said after Game 3 of the conference final that the Golden Knights «don't turn on