Insider finally uncovers truth behind Mitch Marner's absence

NHL insider Darren Dreger of TSN gave some insight into the extent of Mitch Marner's injury and his potential status for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.

With the concerning news that the Maple Leafs are going to be without Mitch Marner due to a lower-body injury, there are many fans worried about how the team is going to fare without him and if it's going to be a detriment going forward.

While the team was able to persevere against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, it's still worrying that Marner, who has been such a key factor in Toronto's success, is hurt.

But according to Dreger, Leafs fans shouldn't have to worry too much about Marner's status.

"Mitch Marner is dealing with some 'stiffness,' but it's not considered a major concern at this point," Dreger said. "He's sitting out tonight's game as a precaution, and the expectation is that he'll be ready for the Four Nations tournament. However, if the issue lingers into Thursday's game against Seattle, it could become a bigger talking point. For now, the focus is on rest and recovery."

Mitch Marner's absence a precaution but has potential to get worse

Stiffness is expected after playing 50-plus games in a season. While it's positive to see that Marner is only dealing with some aches and pains that come with an 82-game slate, it's still concerning that it could stretch into Thursday.

Toronto's practice on Thursday is going to be a very interesting sign as a Marner appearance all but assures that he'll be good to go, but if he's not, then it's time to hover the finger around the panic button.

Marner has undoubtedly been the team's MVP in 2024-25, leading the way with 70 points in 52 games (16G, 54A), and recently became the fastest to reach 70 points with the Leafs since Doug Gilmour and Dave Andreychuk in 1993-94.