Mitch Marner’s career-high season questioned as Craig Berube spots dip during Maple Leafs deadline tension

Mitch Marner was at the center of big talks during the 2024–25 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The right winger was in the final year of his contract and was eligible for a new deal, while trade rumors also swirled.

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Toronto head coach Craig Berube spoke on the show 100% Hockey With Millard & Shannon. He shared how Marner handled the pressure, the trade chatter, and how his performance dipped slightly near the deadline before the trade to Vegas.

Craig Berube says Mitch Marner stayed calm during contract year with Toronto

Craig Berube, who coached Mitch Marner in the 2024–25 NHL season, said the star forward never looked weighed down by his contract situation. Speaking on the hockey show, Berube explained, “No, I didn’t see it weighing on Mitch throughout the season. I thought he handled everything extremely well.”

Craig Berube did point to the trade deadline in March 2025, when the Toronto Maple Leafs were linked to a possible move with the Carolina Hurricanes. Around that time, Berube noticed a small drop in Marner’s game. He said, “I think the deadline, trade deadline, I saw a little bit of his game maybe drop off a little bit… but other than that, I didn’t see it weighing on him.”Despite the noise, Marner had the best season of his career in Toronto. In 81 games, he scored 27 goals and added 75 assists for a career-high 102 points. He also added 13 points in 13 playoff games. By the end of his run in Toronto, Marner had 741 points in 657 games and 63 points across 70 playoff appearances.

Mitch Marner joins Vegas Golden Knights to chase Stanley Cup with Jack Eichel

On July 1, 2025, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights. Before the move, he signed an eight-year, $96 million contract extension with Toronto. That deal carried over to Vegas and ended his nine-year stay in Toronto.Also Read: NHL Trade Rumors: Vegas Golden Knights, Jack Eichel Aligned On 8-Year Extension, As Per Insider Chris JohnstonAfter the trade, Marner made it clear he chose Vegas because of their winning culture. Speaking to NHL.com, he said, “That’s the whole goal of why we do this. You want to hoist that Stanley Cup, and this team has shown they can do it. I’m lucky enough to now hopefully bring in another piece.”Vegas, the 2023 Stanley Cup champions, are again building a roster built to win. Mitch Marner will now line up with star forward Jack Eichel on the top line. With his playmaking and scoring ability, Vegas hopes Marner can be the difference in another championship run.