NHL analyst Jay Rosehill offered a candid assessment of Mitch Marner‘s performance this postseason. Rosehill acknowledged Marner’s key role in the Vegas Golden Knights advancing to the 2nd round.
While Marner came up with clutch performances against the Utah Mammoth and again against the Anaheim Ducks, Rosehill remains skeptical. He is still not convinced that Marner has shed the narrative of not being an X-factor in the playoffs. The former Toronto Maple Leafs star experience playoff heartbreak in Toronto and was criticized for struggling in crucial games.
Marner scored two goals and added an assist in Vegas’s Game 6 win over Utah to advance to the 2nd round. The Golden Knights star once again came up big, recording an assist and scoring the game-winning empty-net goal.
Rosehill, meanwhile, is not yet ready to proclaim Marner as ‘Big Game Mitch.’
“I don’t know if you can do that yet. He’s 3-on-3 Mitch. And hey, I can’t say anything about that game. He showed up big,” Rosehill told The Game Plan. “I just can’t help but wonder where was that over the last decade when the Maple Leafs need a performance like that?”
He added: “Marner in Game 6 and Game 7s had absolutely nothing to show for it for the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Jay Rosehill Addresses Pressure Mitch Marner Faced in Toronto
Jay Rosehill also addressed the pressure Mitch Marner faced while playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He compared it to his own career, having played for the Maple Leafs and understanding the expectations with that market.
Rosehill acknowledged Marner’s performances as another example of some players not being able to handle the pressure of playing in Toronto. He noted that playing for Toronto is special, but it also comes with intense scrutiny.
“[Toronto] is a great marker to play in, like playing for the Leafs is special. Anyone who ever played for them and other teams will tell you there’s a distinct difference playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Rosehill told The Game Plan. “That’s almost like a double-edged sword because all the things that are great about it, about the way you’re treated and how first class the organization is and all the resources available.”
Marner Producing for Golden Knights During Stanley Cup Playoffs
GettySALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MAY 01: Mitch Marner #93 of the Vegas Golden Knights congratulated by Noah Hanifin #15 after scoring a goal against the Utah Mammoth during the second period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center on May 01, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Marner has had strong performances for the Golden Knights so far during the Stanley Cup playoffs. He has delivered when his team is in dire need of a goal while also facilitating as a playmaker.
Marner currently sits 2nd on the Golden Knights in both assists and total points during the postseason. He has scored three goals and added six assists for a total of nine points. That is just one point behind Jack Eichel, who leads the team with 10 points in the postseason.
Marner’s play is significant as Vegas has high expectations, especially considering the money and term committed to him in his contract. After two games, the Golden Knights are currently tied 1-1 with the Ducks in their 2nd round series.
Big Game Mitch? Analyst Shares Take on Mitch Marner’s Playoff Heroics