Toronto — The 6–3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers should have been just another blemish in the middle of a long NHL season. But for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it never is. Not when Connor McDavid is on the other side. And not when the defeat once again exposes familiar, uncomfortable questions: performance in big moments, roster construction, and above all — who is responsible when the Maple Leafs fall apart?

In the wave of controversy that followed the final horn, one name unexpectedly rose to the center of the storm: Mitch Marner.

A Night When Everything Slipped Away

Toronto didn’t start poorly. They scored, they applied pressure, and for brief stretches, Scotiabank Arena believed it was heading toward a compelling back-and-forth. Then the Oilers shifted gears. McDavid exploded. The pace of the game moved beyond Toronto’s control — and from that moment on, the unraveling began.

Three unanswered goals. A defensive structure in disarray. Backchecks half a step late. And when the Maple Leafs desperately needed someone to slow the game down, to control the puck, to bend the tempo back in their favor — no one did.

That was when the spotlight turned directly toward Marner.

Why Mitch Marner?

Not because he was the worst player on the ice.

Not because he committed the most glaring mistake.

And not because he didn’t try.

It was because of expectation.

Marner is highly paid. A homegrown star. The player long expected to be the tactical brain on the ice when chaos sets in. But against Edmonton, Marner faded from the heart of the game.

No goals. No momentum-shifting assist. No defining moment that forced the Oilers to hesitate.

While McDavid dictated the night with only a few touches of the puck, Marner drifted on the edges — involved, but not commanding.

For the Maple Leafs, that is unacceptable.

“Star or Supporting Cast?”

The question dividing the locker room — and the fan base — isn’t whether Marner is talented. Everyone knows he is.

The real question is this: Is Mitch Marner a star in the biggest games?

His defenders point to a collapsing defensive system, to Edmonton’s depth, to McDavid’s generational brilliance. They argue that Marner cannot be expected to plug every hole himself.

Critics aren’t buying it.

“They don’t pay Marner to be ‘fine,’” one former Maple Leaf said on television. “They pay him to change the game.”

When Responsibility Stops Being Abstract

Head coach Craig Berube tried to cool the temperature after the game. He spoke of discipline, structure, and collective accountability. But behind the measured language, a sharper message is emerging: the stars must lead.

In games like this — when the Oilers accelerate and force opponents to keep up — Toronto needs someone to drag the team forward. Auston Matthews draws defenders. William Nylander creates flashes of brilliance. But Marner, long seen as the connective tissue of the roster, failed to exert his influence.

And when that happens, responsibility can no longer hide behind the idea of “the team as a whole.”

A Divided Locker Room?

There have been no public signs of conflict. But according to multiple sources, the postgame atmosphere was heavier than usual. Some younger players felt they had done their jobs. Some veterans believed the stars needed to assert themselves more on the ice — not just in meetings.

Marner is not a vocal leader. He leads through skill and work ethic. But in moments like this, the Maple Leafs don’t need quiet professionalism. They need command, urgency, and even the right kind of selfishness.

This Wasn’t Just a Loss

The 6–3 defeat doesn’t end Toronto’s season. But it revives an old anxiety: the Maple Leafs can beat many teams — yet against elite opponents, they still seem one step behind.

And if Marner — the embodiment of finesse, intelligence, and creativity — can’t help them match that pace, then the question of responsibility will only grow louder.

The Storm Isn’t Over

No one is claiming Marner is the only problem. But in a team perpetually searching for answers after losses like this, the storm needs a name.

This time, that name is Mitch Marner.

And until the Maple Leafs prove they can beat teams like the Oilers in games that truly matter, every road — no matter how winding — will continue to lead back to him.

Not because he isn’t good enough.

But because Toronto needs him to be something more.