‘I Don’t Really Want Solo Achievements In This League’: Maple Leaf’s Mitch Marner Becomes Third-Fastest Active NHLer To Reach 500 Assists In Win Against Kraken

SEATTLE – Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Philippe Myers scored his first NHL goal in 812 days and first as a Leaf, but the puck went to Mitch Marner.

Signed to a one-year deal in the summer and recently inked to a two-year extension last month, Myers does tend to shoot the puck often when he has possession of it, so it might be a bit of a surprise that it’s his first tally since November of 2022. With Marner assisting, the Leafs star collected his 500th helper of his NHL career. Accomplishing the feat in 629 games, he became the third-fastest active player to reach the milestone behind Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid (527 games) and Pittsburgh Penguins future Hall-of-Famer Sidney Crosby (554 games).

“I don’t really want solo achievements in this league, or enjoy them as much as maybe people should,” Marner said following Toronto’s 3-1 win against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. “A lot of credit to the guys around me that have been here with me since day one, and some guys that have moved on. They’re the ones putting the puck in the numbers, trying to find them in the right areas, and luckily enough it’s worked out.”

His teammate showered him with love after the game, presenting Marner with the player-of-the-game belt, handed out following each team victory. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and teammate Steven Lorentz posed next to Marner while sticking out all five fingers.

“He’s the best player in the league,” Myers told TSN during the first-period intermission of Marner’s play.

Marner is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and leads the Leafs with 71 points this season. With a full no-move clause, the player holds all the cards between now and July 1. But in the meantime, the player continues to show his value while staying humble.

Of course, the ultimate team achievement is winning a Stanley Cup, which is ultimately.y how the player may be judged when his career is over.

“Obviously, he can do it all. I mean, great accomplishment for him. You know, we’re very happy for him,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Marner.

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