Did Mitch Marner just throw shade at the Toronto Maple Leafs?

The Vegas Golden Knights are one win away from clinching a spot in the Stanley Cup Final, and Mitch Marner has been at the helm of the team's success.

Following their comeback win in Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche, Marner was asked by reporters about the Golden Knights' ability to stay composed when trailing.

His response raised eyebrows among Toronto Maple Leafs fans. 

"We obviously have an older group that just stays patient and calm. We don't turn on each other, we don't get mad at each other. We know everyone is trying to do their best out there every single shift," Marner told reporters post-game.

Mitch Marner speaks on the group’s mindset when playing from behind. 👀 pic.twitter.com/bHJvHUYRRP

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 25, 2026

Although Marner didn't directly mention the Maple Leafs or provide any specific examples, that hasn't stopped Toronto fans from believing the comments were aimed at his former team.

"He got mad last year, though. And he did it with dry hair!" one Maple Leafs fan wrote.

"He's basically saying, 'In Toronto, we had a younger group that panicked and could not stay calm. We turned on each other, got mad at each other,'" wrote another.

Marner's post-game comments also resurfaced a previous on-bench altercation during the Maple Leafs' 2024 playoff series against the Boston Bruins. During the game, Marner and Auston Matthews were seen having a frustrated exchange on the bench before the camera panned to William Nylander, who had this to say to the two Leafs teammates:

"Stop fking cryin', bro. This is the fking issue. You guys b**** about sh*t. Let's f**king go!" Nylander said on the bench.

The Maple Leafs ultimately lost that series to the Bruins, and one year later, Marner was on his way out of Toronto, signing an eight-year, $96-million contract with Vegas.

As things stand, Marner is the odds-on favourite to win the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP. He leads all players with seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points in 15 playoff games — already more points than he recorded in any of his nine playoff runs with Toronto.

With a surprising 3-0 series lead over Colorado, Marner and the Golden Knights will have a chance to become the first team to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday.