Mitch Marner's agent slams Toronto Maple Leafs for not taking care of him

If you thought the ship had sailed on Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs drama, it appears his agent is still upset about how the organization treated the hometown star in the lead-up to his departure.

Marner's agent, Darren Ferris, appeared on The PuckPedia Hockey Show on Wednesday to chat about his 30-year career as an NHLPA-certified agent and some of his biggest clients, including Marner.

Even though the 29-year-old was dealt away from the team more than a year ago, and the management has completely changed, Ferris didn't hold back when discussing how the Maple Leafs handled his client.

Ferris said the relationship got off on the wrong foot from the moment Marner signed his entry-level contract.

"When he first signed his entry-level contract with Toronto, the organization did not have performance bonuses for him. The organization said nobody gets ELC bonuses," Ferris said.

"They didn't fulfill that, and Mitch did the team a favour back then."

“He was never protected by his organization.”

Darren Ferris on Mitch Marner’s tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Starting all the way with no performance bonuses in his entry-level contract, to how he became the playoff scapegoat.

Full episode for your commute home below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/YkQ5Fip1pU

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 22, 2026

Ferris also indicated that the relationship between Marner and the organization became more difficult as he established himself as one of the team's best players.

"As time went on, he became the focus of everything — scrutinized for every game, he and his family criticized for every loss, receiving threats on social media, which was disturbing," Ferris said.

"You've got to remember, Mitch was carjacked in Toronto. Every time the team came up short, he was the one singled out. He really bled for that team, and he was never protected by his organization, in my opinion."

Marner was drafted by Toronto fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft and put up 61 points in his rookie campaign.

He was a significant part of the Maple Leafs' "core four" that led the team to nine consecutive playoff appearances from the 2016-17 season to the 2024-25 season. However, Marner's performances when it mattered ultimately contributed to his demise among Maple Leafs fans.

Ferris said a fresh start in Vegas has allowed Marner to focus solely on hockey.

Marner appears to have benefited from the move, helping lead Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season. He also led the playoffs in scoring, recording 29 points in 22 games. In comparison, he had 63 points in 70 playoff games with Toronto.

He also spoke openly during this year's playoffs about the emotional toll he felt playing for Toronto.

Marner admitted there were "some really dark moments" during his nine seasons here and said he found himself in "a dark hole" mentally.

Either way, a lot has changed for the Maple Leafs and Marner since the trade, and both sides appear to be in a far better space now.