Leafs’ Mitch Marner made a fine impression on Devon Toews

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Devon Toews became a big fan of Mitch Marner at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

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And it wasn’t just because Marner set up Connor McDavid for the winning goal in overtime in the final against the United States.

All that Toews — in Toronto with the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday for the team’s lone visit of the 2024-25 regular season — knew about Marner prior to the best-on-best tournament was how difficult it is to defend against the Maple Leafs superstar during games.

As teammates with Canada, Toews got to know the other side of Marner.

“Great person to be around,” the Avs defenceman said after the morning skate. “Good leader in the room as well, such a humble person. He was one of those guys that I enjoyed getting to know.”

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Marner’s reputation as having a gregarious nature in the dressing room precedes him. For Toews, being in that environment with Marner was a revelation.

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It’s further insight into one of the off-ice Marner factors the Leafs would miss if he signs elsewhere in free agency, and what he would bring to his new team, if that’s how the summer transpires.

“Not in an overbearing way, or rah-rah, but he was a guy who keeps it really light and likes to have fun, likes to enjoy himself, check in on his teammates, talk to them, make sure they’re engaged as well,” Toews said. “He’s a good guy to keep you level-headed. Hockey is an important part and a stressful part of our lives. He was really good at just talking about life.”

For the Leafs, Marner, through his play, has deflected the outside chatter, which was turned up several notches in the past few weeks after general manager Brad Treliving approached him about waiving his no-movement clause to facilitate a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes.

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Marner had five points in five games following the trade deadline and before the Leafs and Avalanche met at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night.

“He has been great,” Leafs centre John Tavares said. “The easiest part when there’s a lot of noise around things is when you can go out there and put your gear on and play and do what you’ve done your whole life.

“Certainly, being from from the GTA, from the city, I know how much he enjoys (getting on the ice) and appreciates it. The support around him, it’s a tight-knit room.

“It’s a brotherhood in a lot of ways, how we all are supporting each other, and the enjoyment of going out there, going through the daily grind and everything you do to get ready to play, you engulf yourself in that.

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“That’s what he has done. You try not to focus on everything else that can swirl around.”

Toews wasn’t quite looking forward to trying to help keep Marner at bay on Wednesday. When the teams squared off in Denver on March 8, Marner scored two goals at five-on-five. Toews was on the ice for both Marner markers.

“We saw it in Colorado — the subtleties of his game, the penalty killing and providing on that end is something you don’t see from a lot of star players,” Toews said. “To commit to that … he’s just a super-dangerous player, and one that’s hard to defend.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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